Well in advance of next spring's hay fever season, some interesting new additions have been made to the arsenal of weapons used to fight the allergic reaction.

Pills, masks and nasal sprays are the typical line of defense against the onslaught of cedar pollen. But now, thanks to Lion Corp. and Fumakilla Co., people have the option of spraying their coats instead of their noses and rubbing cream in their nostrils rather than popping pills.

And hay fever sufferers are going to need all the help they can get next year if forecasts ring true.

The amount of pollen disseminated each spring corresponds to the temperatures and amount of sunlight recorded during the previous summer, say researchers.

So because the nation sweltered through record heat in the summer, the Japan Weather Association predicts that, ``depending on the region, record-high levels of pollen dispersion will occur.''

Pass the tissue.

Or better yet, pass the Kafun Guard, a spray for clothing from Lion that attacks allergens at the nanotechnology level.

Runny noses and sneezing are triggered when pollen ruptures, for example, on contact with mucous membranes in the nose, releasing allergens.

Kafun Guard contains particles about one-three thousandth the size of pollen that wrap around the surface membranes, preventing them from rupturing.

The spray comes in 300-milliliter bottles and in 250-ml refill packages.

Another somewhat unusual new product is Kafun Hana de Block, a cream from Fumakilla that catches pollen already inhaled into the nose.

The company recommends using a cotton swab to apply the cream about 1 centimeter inside the nostrils.

Unlike some pills, the cream does not cause drowsiness and can be used by pregnant or breast-feeding women.

The product is on sale nationwide for a tax-exclusive price of 1,650 yen.

Something a little more traditional is on its way from Unicharm Corp.

The company scored a huge hit last year with its Cho-Rittai Mask, which fully covers the nose to the bottom of the chin.

A smaller version of the mask is scheduled to be released in January for children, said a company spokesperson, who cited a recent survey that found 20 percent of teens suffer from hay fever.(IHT/Asahi: December 28,2004)