Springtime in Japan is eagerly anticipated, by residents and visitors from overseas. Who could avoid being caught up in the countdown to the first cherry blossoms of each local community? After the short daylight of winter, one would at least like to see a sunset come at 6:00 or later rather than 5:00. And the promise of seeing plum blossoms and cherry blossoms would make anyone eager for spring to come.

But there is always a catch. Thanks to all of the cedar trees that were planted after World War II to replace the forests that were cut down for timber, pollen blows up into the skies causing many people to suffer from cedar pollen allergy. The white masks that many people wear in winter to prevent catching cold remain in use to prevent breathing in the pollen, which is mixed with ordinary air pollution.

This year we have had to deal with another yellowish powder in the air, one that cuts down visibility in the skies even on a clear day. This is the yellow sand that blows up into the atmosphere from the deserts of mainland China and is carried over Japan in high-altitude winds.

This fine yellow sand arrives almost unnoticed. If you look far into the distance and notice the haziness of mountains or even tall buildings, you may think it is just a cloudy day. But if you run your finger on the top of a car or an aluminum balcony railing, you will see what has silently accumulated.

The year 2024 has seen several days of yellow sand arrive from far, far away.

(269 words)