During the rainy season, which begins in mid-June and lasts until late July, Japan is beset by a warm, humid period when mold and musty odors abound. Products containing anti-fungal and odor-preventing agents effective in deodorizing and preventing mildew are being widely used in the battle against this seasonal nemesis.
The summer rainy season is characteristic of the East Asian climate; in Japan the rainy front sets in over the southern shore, blanketing the entire nation--except Hokkaido--in a steady drizzle. During an average rainy season, western Japan gets one-fourth of its annual total rainfall, while eastern Japan gets one-fifth of the annual total. Along with the spring runoff from melting snow on the side of the country facing the Japan Sea, the rainy season is crucial to Japan's water supply.
At the same time, however, this is a sticky, steamy, uncomfortable season. Hot, sleepless nights, constant sweating, ubiquitous mold, and the stench of mildew are everyday realities of the rainy season.
The Japanese have long been devising ways to battle the heat and humidity or even use it to advantage. One example is wooden storage containers. Wood absorbs and releases moisture, keeping the internal humidity of a box at approximately 70%, making it an excellent storage place to preserve objects. Humidity has also been used to advantage in fermenting traditional foods, such as miso paste, soy sauce, and natto (fermented soy beans).
Recently synthetic products that effectively prevent the growth and smell of mold have come on the market. They contain chemical agents that suppress the bacterial microorganisms that are responsible for spreading mold. At the same time, they extract the odor causing section of the microorganisms, effectively eliminating the musty smell. Products containing these mold-fighting agents are nearly ubiquitous.
Some of the more popular anti-fungal items are shoe insoles, slippers, underwear, and towels. A bag made of material that prevents mold and odor has recently been marketed. A pen has also been developed that has an anti-fungal agent mixed into the plastic of the body. The agent used is the same as that employed to combat salmonella and colon bacilli. It was originally developed to prevent infections in hospitals, but recently it has been sold for general purposes as well. A major commercial bank has also begun issuing bank cards treated on both sides with an anti-fungal material that prevents the growth of mold and spread of colon bacilli. Possibly due to the recent increase in the number of non-smokers, restaurants and coffee shops have been purchasing wallpaper and chair coverings that have been treated so they do not retain the smell of cigarette smoke. The same idea is becoming popular among car parts manufacturers, who have applied the smoke resistant material to automobile interiors.
(The above article, edited by Japan Echo Inc., is based on domestic Japanese news sources. It is offered for reference purposes and does not necessarily represent the policy or views of the Japanese Government.)