Japan: Cedar Pollen Reaches Its Peak With Heavy Dispersal Reported 3

Cedar pollen levels reached their peak across a wide area of Japan, including Tokyo, on Saturday, February 28, as strong winds and rising temperatures created ideal conditions for mass dispersal. In several regions, a "pollen corona" was observed around the sun, a visual phenomenon indicating an extreme concentration of pollen in the atmosphere.

Japan: Cedar Pollen Reaches Its Peak With Heavy Dispersal Reported 5

Cedar pollen levels reached their peak across a wide area of Japan, including Tokyo, on Saturday, February 28, as strong winds and rising temperatures created ideal conditions for mass dispersal. In several regions, a "pollen corona" was observed around the sun, a visual phenomenon indicating an extreme concentration of pollen in the atmosphere.

Japan: Cedar Pollen Reaches Its Peak With Heavy Dispersal Reported 4

Cedar pollen levels reached their peak across a wide area of Japan, including Tokyo, on Saturday, February 28, as strong winds and rising temperatures created ideal conditions for mass dispersal. In several regions, a "pollen corona" was observed around the sun, a visual phenomenon indicating an extreme concentration of pollen in the atmosphere.

Japan: Cedar Pollen Reaches Its Peak With Heavy Dispersal Reported

Cedar pollen levels reached their peak across a wide area of Japan, including Tokyo, on Saturday, February 28, as strong winds and rising temperatures created ideal conditions for mass dispersal. In several regions, a "pollen corona" was observed around the sun, a visual phenomenon indicating an extreme concentration of pollen in the atmosphere.

Japan: Cedar Pollen Reaches Its Peak With Heavy Dispersal Reported 2

Cedar pollen levels reached their peak across a wide area of Japan, including Tokyo, on Saturday, February 28, as strong winds and rising temperatures created ideal conditions for mass dispersal. In several regions, a "pollen corona" was observed around the sun, a visual phenomenon indicating an extreme concentration of pollen in the atmosphere.

Baseball: MLB spring training

Baseball: MLB spring training

Houston Astros pitcher Tatsuya Imai is pictured in the dugout after throwing the first inning of a spring training game against the New York Mets at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Feb. 26, 2026.

Baseball: MLB spring training

Baseball: MLB spring training

Houston Astros pitcher Tatsuya Imai is pictured in the dugout after throwing the first inning of a spring training game against the New York Mets at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Feb. 26, 2026.

Baseball: MLB spring training

Baseball: MLB spring training

Tatsuya Imai of the Houston Astros pitches in the first inning of a spring training game against the New York Mets at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Feb. 26, 2026.

Baseball: MLB spring training

Baseball: MLB spring training

Tatsuya Imai of the Houston Astros pitches in the first inning of a spring training game against the New York Mets at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Feb. 26, 2026.

Baseball: MLB spring training

Baseball: MLB spring training

Tatsuya Imai of the Houston Astros pitches in the first inning of a spring training game against the New York Mets at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Feb. 26, 2026.

Baseball: MLB spring training

Baseball: MLB spring training

Tatsuya Imai of the Houston Astros pitches in the first inning of a spring training game against the New York Mets at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Feb. 26, 2026.

Baseball: MLB spring training

Baseball: MLB spring training

Tatsuya Imai of the Houston Astros pitches in the first inning of a spring training game against the New York Mets at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Feb. 26, 2026.

Baseball: MLB spring training

Baseball: MLB spring training

Tatsuya Imai of the Houston Astros pitches in the first inning of a spring training game against the New York Mets at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Feb. 26, 2026.

Baseball: MLB spring training

Baseball: MLB spring training

Tatsuya Imai of the Houston Astros pitches in the first inning of a spring training game against the New York Mets at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Feb. 26, 2026.

Baseball: MLB spring training

Baseball: MLB spring training

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto waves to fans during spring training in Glendale, Arizona, on Feb. 26, 2026.

Baseball: MLB spring training

Baseball: MLB spring training

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto works out during practice in Glendale, Arizona, on Feb. 26, 2026.

Baseball: MLB spring training

Baseball: MLB spring training

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto walks in the team's campsite in Glendale, Arizona, on Feb. 26, 2026.

Baseball: MLB spring training

Baseball: MLB spring training

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki walks in the team's campsite in Glendale, Arizona, on Feb. 26, 2026.

Baseball: MLB spring training

Baseball: MLB spring training

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki runs in the team's campsite in Glendale, Arizona, on Feb. 26, 2026.

Baseball: MLB spring training

Baseball: MLB spring training

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto plays catch during practice in Glendale, Arizona, on Feb. 26, 2026.

Baseball: MLB spring training

Baseball: MLB spring training

Toronto Blue Jays rookie Kazuma Okamoto runs after hitting a two-run double in the fourth inning of a spring training game against the Miami Marlins at TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Florida, on Feb. 26, 2026.

Baseball: MLB spring training

Baseball: MLB spring training

Toronto Blue Jays rookie Kazuma Okamoto hits a two-run double in the fourth inning of a spring training game against the Miami Marlins at TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Florida, on Feb. 26, 2026.

Baseball: MLB spring training

Baseball: MLB spring training

Toronto Blue Jays rookie Kazuma Okamoto is pictured after hitting a two-run double in the fourth inning of a spring training game against the Miami Marlins at TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Florida, on Feb. 26, 2026.

Baseball: MLB spring training

Baseball: MLB spring training

Toronto Blue Jays rookie Kazuma Okamoto hits a two-run double in the fourth inning of a spring training game against the Miami Marlins at TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Florida, on Feb. 26, 2026.

Japan: Hay Fever Alert Issued as Mass Pollen Dispersal Expected to Peak Nationwide

As of February 16, the start of cedar pollen dispersal has been confirmed in parts of the region stretching from Kyushu to Tokai. By late February, dispersal is expected to begin across a wide area ranging from Kyushu to southern Tohoku. In Shizuoka Prefecture specifically, cedar pollen began dispersing in early February 2026; total volume is expected to reach 1.9 times the average of the past 10 years. Thick pollen is visible in the video, creating hazy conditions across the mountain range.

Baseball: MLB spring training

Baseball: MLB spring training

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto throws a bullpen session as manager Dave Roberts watches at the team's spring training in Glendale, Arizona, on Feb. 25, 2026.

Baseball: MLB spring training

Baseball: MLB spring training

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto throws a bullpen session as manager Dave Roberts watches at the team's spring training in Glendale, Arizona, on Feb. 25, 2026.

Baseball: MLB spring training

Baseball: MLB spring training

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto throws a bullpen session as manager Dave Roberts watches at the team's spring training in Glendale, Arizona, on Feb. 25, 2026.

Baseball: MLB spring training

Baseball: MLB spring training

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto is pictured during a bullpen session at the team's spring training in Glendale, Arizona, on Feb. 25, 2026.

Baseball: MLB spring training

Baseball: MLB spring training

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto fist bumps a catcher after throwing a bullpen session at the team's spring training in Glendale, Arizona, on Feb. 25, 2026.

Baseball: MLB spring training

Baseball: MLB spring training

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts (R) watches pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto throwing a bullpen session at the team's spring training in Glendale, Arizona, on Feb. 25, 2026.

Baseball: MLB spring training

Baseball: MLB spring training

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto works out during at the team's spring training in Glendale, Arizona, on Feb. 25, 2026.

Baseball: MLB spring training

Baseball: MLB spring training

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto throws a bullpen session at the team's spring training in Glendale, Arizona, on Feb. 25, 2026.

Baseball: MLB spring training

Baseball: MLB spring training

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto plays catch at the team's spring training in Glendale, Arizona, on Feb. 25, 2026.

Baseball: MLB spring training game

Baseball: MLB spring training game

Toronto Blue Jays rookie Kazuma Okamoto hits a double in the fourth inning of a spring training baseball game against the Detroit Tigers on Feb. 25, 2026, in Lakeland, Florida.

Baseball: MLB spring training game

Baseball: MLB spring training game

Toronto Blue Jays rookie Kazuma Okamoto hits a double in the fourth inning of a spring training baseball game against the Detroit Tigers on Feb. 25, 2026, in Lakeland, Florida.

Baseball: MLB spring training game

Baseball: MLB spring training game

Toronto Blue Jays rookie Kazuma Okamoto lines out in the fifth inning of a spring training baseball game against the Detroit Tigers on Feb. 25, 2026, in Lakeland, Florida.

Baseball: MLB spring training game

Baseball: MLB spring training game

Toronto Blue Jays rookie Kazuma Okamoto meets the press following a spring training baseball game against the Detroit Tigers on Feb. 25, 2026, in Lakeland, Florida.

Baseball: MLB spring training game

Baseball: MLB spring training game

Toronto Blue Jays rookie Kazuma Okamoto meets the press following a spring training baseball game against the Detroit Tigers on Feb. 25, 2026, in Lakeland, Florida.

Baseball: MLB spring training game

Baseball: MLB spring training game

Toronto Blue Jays rookie Kazuma Okamoto lines out in the fifth inning of a spring training baseball game against the Detroit Tigers on Feb. 25, 2026, in Lakeland, Florida.

Baseball: MLB spring training game

Baseball: MLB spring training game

Toronto Blue Jays rookie Kazuma Okamoto fields a grounder hit by Jahmai Jones of the Detroit Tigers in the first inning of a spring training baseball game on Feb. 25, 2026, in Lakeland, Florida.

Baseball: MLB spring training game

Baseball: MLB spring training game

Toronto Blue Jays rookie Kazuma Okamoto meets the press following a spring training baseball game against the Detroit Tigers on Feb. 25, 2026, in Lakeland, Florida.

Baseball: MLB spring training game

Baseball: MLB spring training game

Toronto Blue Jays rookie Kazuma Okamoto is hit by a pitch in the second inning of a spring training baseball game against the Detroit Tigers on Feb. 25, 2026, in Lakeland, Florida.

Baseball: MLB spring training game

Baseball: MLB spring training game

Toronto Blue Jays rookie Kazuma Okamoto (L) is pictured alongside Detroit Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson after being hit by a pitch in the second inning of a spring training baseball game on Feb. 25, 2026, in Lakeland, Florida.

Baseball: MLB spring training game

Baseball: MLB spring training game

Toronto Blue Jays rookie Kazuma Okamoto is pictured after hitting a double in the fourth inning of a spring training baseball game against the Detroit Tigers on Feb. 25, 2026, in Lakeland, Florida.

Baseball: MLB spring training game

Baseball: MLB spring training game

Toronto Blue Jays rookie Kazuma Okamoto (facing camera) speaks with manager John Schneider (R) after being hit by a pitch in the second inning of a spring training baseball game against the Detroit Tigers on Feb. 25, 2026, in Lakeland, Florida.

Baseball: MLB spring training game

Baseball: MLB spring training game

Toronto Blue Jays rookie Kazuma Okamoto (L) fist bumps hitting coach David Popkins after scoring on an RBI single by Nathan Lukes in the fourth inning of a spring training baseball game against the Detroit Tigers on Feb. 25, 2026, in Lakeland, Florida.

Baseball: MLB spring training game

Baseball: MLB spring training game

Toronto Blue Jays rookie Kazuma Okamoto hits a double in the fourth inning of a spring training baseball game against the Detroit Tigers on Feb. 25, 2026, in Lakeland, Florida.

Baseball: MLB spring training game

Baseball: MLB spring training game

Los Angeles Dodgers hurler Roki Sasaki pitches in a spring training baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Scottsdale, Arizona, on Feb. 25, 2026.

Baseball: MLB spring training game

Baseball: MLB spring training game

Los Angeles Dodgers hurler Roki Sasaki pitches in a spring training baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Scottsdale, Arizona, on Feb. 25, 2026.