Japan to replace cedars with low-pollen trees to tackle hay fever

Japan on Tuesday decided to speed up replacing cedar forests with trees that produce less pollen as a measure to tackle hay fever, an allergy believed to affect some 40 percent of the country's population.Japan has set a goal of around a 20 percent reduction in planted cedar tree areas by fiscal 2033. A large number of cedar trees were planted to meet housing demand during Japan's period of rapid economic growth after the end of World War II.Pollen dispersion increased as planted cedar forests grew, making hay fever prevalent in Japan since 1970, with many experiencing symptoms such as a ru…READ FULL ARTICLE