Thank Buddha it's raining this week

[Taro Toporific]

Because of global warming Japan's cedar pollen is SEVENTEEN times the average year in Kanto (and 99 times in Kyusho accroding to the NHK News this morning. Normally pollen doesn't bother me but I swear than I can see the pollen dust gather on my black keyboard as I'm <!sneeze> typing now. The high pollen levels will kill the GDP even with a big jump in the sales of creepy face masks, DEVO goggles, useless antihistamines and other quack remedies.

Japanese economy may catch the bug, literally
The Economic Times, Feb 01, 2005 11:10:06 PM
The Japanese economy has long seemed allergic to growth. For more than a decade, every brief rebound has been followed by a negative reaction and a rash of pessimism.
Now, with growth slowing again after a three-year spurt, allergies may weaken the economy once more %u2014 this time, literally.
This week, the Dai-Ichi Life Research Institute estimated that exceptionally high pollen levels from cedar and cypress trees will knock 0.6% off this quarte's GDP.
The think-tank estimates that reductions in spending on travel and other forms of leisure will more than offset increased sales of face masks, air cleaners, antihistamines and other remedies.
...more...

[Charles]

...I swear than I can see the pollen dust gather on my black keyboard as I'm <!sneeze> typing now...

I saw a nature video on NHK showing a cedar forest blown about in high winds. It looked like smoke was rising from a forest fire, but it was clouds of pollen.

[Taro Toporific]

... NHK showing a cedar forest blown about in high winds. It looked like smoke was rising from a forest fire, but it was clouds of pollen.

In the parking lot behind my place, the long black Yakuza 600 Benz is covered with enough polen on it every morning for me to write engrish tags on it.