'Pollen Robos' Help Track Japan's Pollen Season

CHIBA, JAPAN - FEBRUARY 02: Weathercaster Ayaka Matsuyuki places a Pollen Robo on a rack during a demonstration of pollen tracking devices or 'Pollen Robos' at the Weathernews Inc.'s office on February 2, 2015 in Chiba, Japan. The pollen sensors take in air and indicate the number of pollen grains by changing the colors of it's eyes. Weathernews Inc. has more than 1000 pollen robos in operation across Japan. With the pollen season set to start in the first weeks of February reports suggest that 2015 will see pollen levels twice to three times higher than last year. Hay fever caused by pollen dispersal was uncommon in Japan until the early 1960s, reforestation of forests destroyed during World War II, saw the introduction of cryptomeria or cedar trees and increased numbers of Japanese cypress trees, as the trees matured they began to produce large amounts of pollen. Each year approximately 20% of Japan's population suffer from severe seasonal hay fever as the pollen season spreads across the country. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)