Japan’s Smell Harassment Culture

In Japan, the term スメハラ, or "sumehara," means "smell harassment," a social offense built around bothering other people with unpleasant odors in shared spaces. The concept does not describe deliberate cruelty so much as the fear of becoming a nuisance, especially in offices, on crowded trains, and in other close public settings. As the idea spread, it reshaped parts of Japan’s personal care market, pushing brands to sell more deodorizing products and even smell-management advice.

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