Nearly 1 in 2 People Suffer from Hay Fever - Severe Sufferers Show Increased Use of 'E-commerce Sites' and More Than Double Tissue Purchase Frequency

Nippon Information Co., Ltd., a comprehensive marketing research company (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President: Keita Saito), conducted an internet research survey targeting 1,175 men and women aged 16-69 nationwide on the theme "How do products sold change with pollen? - Thorough investigation of spring consumption behavior changes." The survey period was from March 4 to March 5, 2026.

Findings from the Survey Results

### Findings1 Approximately half of the total population suffers from hay fever, with a significantly higher proportion among men in their 30s and 40s. The average age of hay fever onset is young, in the early 20s, with many cases developing in their teens and 20s, while new cases also emerge in their 30s and beyond.

45.6% of respondents identified themselves as having "hay fever," accounting for approximately half of the total. The average budget for hay fever countermeasures is around 3,300 yen, with a tendency for the budget to fluctuate according to the severity of symptoms. Approximately half of severe hay fever sufferers developed the condition before the age of 19.

### Findings2 Many hay fever sufferers experience physical symptoms such as "runny nose/nasal congestion" and "itchy eyes," in addition to mental and behavioral burdens like "feeling strong stress from hay fever symptoms" and "decreased concentration and performance."

Common countermeasures include masks, eye drops, and high-performance tissues. High satisfaction is limited to certain measures, such as doctor-prescribed medications. "Severe hay fever sufferers" tend to have low satisfaction with countermeasures.

### Findings3 ...