Allergies
Coming Soon!
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Coming soon!
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アレルギー arerugii allergy
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アレルギー物質 arerugii busshitsu allergen
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アレルギーの症状 arerugii no shojo allergy symptoms
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救急車を呼んで下さい kyuukyusha wo yonde kudasai please call an ambulance
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アレルギー検査 arerugii kensa allergy test
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アナフィラキシー anafirakushii anaphylactic shock
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助けて下さい tasukete kudasai Please help me
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エピペン epipen EpiPen
Tips
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You can print those useful cards for dietary restrictions from https://www.justhungry.com/japan-dining-out-cards.
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Some people also have what are called cross-reactions.
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For example, people who are allergic to birch pollen might have symptoms when they eat an apple because that apple is made up of a protein similar to one in the pollen.
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And for reasons that aren't clear, people with a latex allergy (found in latex gloves and some kinds of hospital equipment) are more likely to be allergic to foods like kiwi, chestnuts, avocados, and bananas.
References: https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/allergy.html
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Some cosmetics or laundry detergents can make people break out in hives. Usually, this is because someone has a reaction to the chemicals in these products, though it may not always be an allergic reaction. Dyes, household cleaners, and pesticides used on lawns or plants also can cause allergic reactions in some people.
Laundry Detergent
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Arieru detergent
Beauty Products & Makeup
Skin Care Products
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Face wash, exfoliators, toners, essences, serums/boosters/ampoule treatments, lotions, eye creams, masks, face creams, and SPF.
Skin Care Recommendations
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Korean products (e.g. the brand "COSRX" which is made for sensitive skins)
Makeup
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A lot of makeup...
Shampoo & Co.
Recommendations
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Dove products (e.g. body wash)
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Pantene’s non-silicone shampoo
References: https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/allergy.html
Medicine
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Antibiotics are the most common type of medicines that cause allergic reactions. Many other others, including over-the-counter medicines (those you can buy without a prescription), also can cause allergic reactions.
References: https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/allergy.html
Bug Bites
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Mosquitoes, tatami bugs/mites/dani, centipedes/mukade, etc. Pharmacies stock all sorts of products for dealing with these insects and their bites (虫刺され mushi sasare), but even with some insect repellent (防虫 bōchū) or insecticide (虫よけ or 虫除け mushi yoke), insect bites happen and you find yourself with an itchy problem. If you get bitten by a centipede (mukade) or stung by a Japanese hornet (suzumebachi), go to the hospital. Anti‐itch sprays, liquid medications and creams can easily be found at your local drugstore or pharmacy (they oftenhave a picture of what they are for on the packaging). (かゆみ kayumi itch,腫れ hare swelling).
References: https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/allergy.html
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Until only a few decades ago, there were no strict guidelines regarding food labels and allergies in Japan.
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Today, most restaurants as well as stores in Tokyo offer lists of their food/ingredients and can offer detailed explanations of what foods are allergy-safe from certain ingredients.
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The same can also be said for supermarkets.
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Most food products are labeled by their manufacturers with a list of allergens that are either part of the food or produced in the same factory as the food.
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The content of these labels is based on government standards and lists ingredients that the foods contain or may have come in contact with, the same as those found overseas.
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Unfortunately, as with most food labels in Japan, this information is typically only available in Japanese.
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But worry not: Here is the information you need, supported with examples of different food labels so that non-Japanese speakers can safely shop — and enjoy — every bit of Japan’s cuisine!
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If you aren’t sure whether a given product contains any of the following allergens, find a clerk at the grocery store and ask “kono shohin ni ○○ ga haiitemasuka?” (この商品に○○が入ってますか？), just to be sure. And if the staff can’t tell you, then you might want to skip that product. So, here they are.
The Top 7 allergens
This listing will state whether the product contains any of the following ingredients, which are classified as severe allergic-reaction-causing foods in Japan. These are typically the “emergency reaction” foods, that can cause immediate anaphylaxis and should be avoided at all costs by those with allergies.
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えび ebi shrimp
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かに kani crab
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小麦 komugi wheat
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そば (蕎麦) soba buckwheat
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卵 tamago egg/egg derivatives
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乳 / 牛乳 nyu/gyunyu milk/dairy derivatives
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落花生 rakkasei peanuts/groundnuts
the Other Food Allergens
This list includes foods that may have come in contact with a given product or may be contained in a product, even in trace amounts. They are not considered as severe allergy foods per se but can cause mild to severe reactions if a person is sensitive to them.
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あわび awabi abalone
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いか ika squid/cuttlefish
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いくら ikura fish eggs/roe
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オレンジ orenji orange
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カシューナッツ kashu-natsu cashew nuts
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キウイフルーツ kiwi furutsu kiwi fruit
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牛肉 gyuniku beef
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くるみ kurumi walnut
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ごま goma sesame/sesame derivatives
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さけ sake salmon
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さば saba mackerel
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大豆 daizu soy bean/soy derivatives
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鶏肉 toriniku chicken
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バナナ banana banana
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豚肉 butaniku pork
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まつたけ matsutake matsutake mushroom
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もも momo peach
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やまいも yamaimo Japanese yam
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りんご ringo apple
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いちご ichigo strawberries
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ナッツ nattsu nuts
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トマト tomato tomato
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ゼラチン zerachin gelatin
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お酒 osake alcohol
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甘味料 kanmiryo sweetener
Reading the Labels
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⚠ Some ingredients might not be listed on some labels.
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⚠ Many dairy products such as milk, ice cream, butter, cream, and everything made with dairy are “calcium enriched” with ground oyster shells. To avoid that, find an organic brand that doesn’t add calcium to any of their products.
References: https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/allergy.html, , https://jonellepatrick.com/2019/07/14/how-can-i-travel-in-japan-if-i-have-food-allergies/
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If you have food allergies, use the usual caution and learn the Japanese words for your allergen (or at least carry a written version of it).
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Some products have a pretty thorough list of allergens, sometimes presented in a table.
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Information on contact and food traces are a bit harder to find without the language skills.
Some of the most common things people are allergic to are airborne (carried through the air):
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Dust mites are microscopic insects that live all around us and feed on the millions of dead skin cells that fall off our bodies every day. They're the main allergic component of house dust. Dust mites are present year-round in most parts of Japan and live in bedding, upholstery, and carpets.
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Pollen allergy, often called hay fever, affects many people. Pollen allergies are seasonal, and the type of pollen (from trees, weeds, and grasses) someone is allergic to determines when symptoms happen.
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Molds are fungi that thrive both indoors and outside in warm, moist environments. Outdoors, molds can be found in poor drainage areas, such as in piles of rotting leaves or compost piles. Indoors, molds thrive in dark, poorly ventilated places such as bathrooms and damp basements. Molds tend to be seasonal, but some can grow year-round, especially those indoors.
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Pet allergens are caused by pet dander (tiny flakes of shed skin) and animal saliva. When pets lick themselves, the saliva gets on their fur or feathers. As the saliva dries, protein particles become airborne and work their way into fabrics in the home. Pet urine also can cause allergies in the same way when it gets on airborne fur or skin, or when a pet pees in a spot that isn't cleaned.
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Cockroaches are also a major household allergen, especially in inner cities. Exposure to cockroach-infested buildings may be a major cause of the high rates of asthma in inner-city people.
Recommendations
Different kinds of medicines can be found in drugstores and pharmacies. Some also require a prescription.
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Allergion
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Allergy spray
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Claritin
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Cetirizine hydrochloride (prescription-only in Japan)
References: https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/allergy.html
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In case of allergies such as hay fever or other allergic reactions (rashes, etc.), over‐the‐counter drugs, like pills and creams, can be found at the drugstore or pharmacy.
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Some types of medication are prescription only
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You’ll see a lot of people wear face masks in the spring because of allergies.
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Some foreigners have been known to develop allergies while in Japan.
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Use this guide to make life safer for those with allergies.
References: https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/allergy.html, https://savvytokyo.com/quick-guide-know-and-understand-food-allergies-in-japan/,