TL;DR — Most Japanese people wear masks by personal choice — for hay fever relief, flu prevention, warmth, or simply comfort — not because they’re sick. The habit took root in the 1980s hay fever boom and has been growing ever since. Japanese People Really Do Wear Masks a Lot Writing my article on hay fever got me thinking about how high the mask-wearing rate is in Japan. As a Japanese person myself, it doesn’t feel strange to me at all — but I started to wonder if it must look pretty bizarre to people from other countries. ...

TL;DR — ENT clinics in Japan get overwhelmingly crowded every spring because hay fever is remarkably widespread here — driven by cedar and cypress pollen from late February through April. Worth knowing before you visit. The Never-Ending Itchy Eyes and Runny Nose Late February through early April is the worst time of year for me. Yes. It’s hay fever season. I get so desperate I want to detach my eyes and nose and rinse them under a tap — not that that’s actually possible. ...

TL;DR — Hanami (花見) is the Japanese tradition of gathering under cherry blossoms to eat, drink, and enjoy the blooms together. It’s a beloved spring ritual — especially popular at universities in April — and a wonderful way to connect with people. The Cherry Blossom Season Japan is right in the middle of cherry blossom season. Here in Kanto, where I live, the flowers are starting to fall and the trees are turning to leafy green. ...

TL;DR — Cutting in line in Japan isn’t just bad manners — it’s seen as actively disrupting the social order, and it leaves a strongly negative impression on everyone nearby. One line per register is the unspoken rule, and it’s taken very seriously. Why I Started This Blog It happened at a souvenir shop in a busy tourist area. There were a few Japanese people around, but most of the customers were foreign visitors. ...