60% in Japan give up activities due to sweat, survey finds

Nearly 60% of people in Japan concerned about sweating have given up certain activities, a joint survey by three pharmaceutical firms found.

Of 9,459 respondents who gave valid responses, 4,767 said they are concerned about sweating. Of them, 58% said they have abandoned certain activities because of sweating.

The most common response, cited by 27% of them, was giving up wearing preferred clothing. This was followed by 20% who avoided approaching others, and 16% who refrained from going out during the day or planning long outings.

The survey, conducted online in February by a group formed by Kaken Pharmaceutical, Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical and Maruho, covered individuals aged 15 to 59 across the country. The group aims to promote greater awareness and understanding of sweat-related concerns across society.

When asked whether they considered their sweat unclean or unsanitary, 66% responded affirmatively. Additionally, 65% felt they were causing inconvenience to others.

Despite their worries, 69% of respondents said they would not seek help. Among the reasons given, the two most commonly cited were that sweating was viewed as a physical condition, by 19%, or that they had resigned themselves to the belief that the problem would not be resolved, also by 19%.

The survey found that 48% said they were hesitant to consult medical institutions, often due to high treatment costs.