I have a family member (my daughter) who will be doing year-long study abroad program in Japan starting next fall. The one thing that concerns me is that she’s anaphylactically allergic to shrimp, crab, and other shellfish. Given that these are pretty common items in the Japanese diet, I’ve been wondering if a medic alert bracelet in Japanese might not be a good idea. I’ve looked around the internet, and can’t find anything about obtaining one. She had her academic advisor, who is also head of the Japanese language department, look too. She couldn’t find any info.
Can any Japanese dopers advise or have any suggestions?
I would have your daughter (or her school) contact the Japanese school’s international student center and ask them to help make any necessary arrangements. I’ve come across a few Japanese companies that make medical alert bracelets but it would likely be difficult to order one from overseas.
Does your daughter speak Japanese? It might be worthwhile to have a card describing her allergy made in Japanese to show to waiters, etc.
They were one of the first I checked. Japan is not listed as one of their member countries, and apparently they don’t do engraving in Japanese. It’s crucial in an emergency situation that the bracelet/necklace/what-have-you be immediately and clearly readable by first responders without having to mess with calling a phone number, finding a translator, and pulling up the relevant records, which is what they offer for their ‘global services’.
Thank you, that’s a great idea, and I’ll pass it on to her.
Yes, she speaks reasonably good Japanese - it’s her major. She had four years in high school and is in her sophomore year of college study. She’s most likely going to be doing her program at Tokyo Jogakkan College, a small school in the Machida area of Tokyo. (It was either that or J.F. Oberlin - she liked the idea of smaller school.) Even so, a written card still couldn’t be a bad idea. Thank you!
Not to mention that if the Japanese first responders are not used to looking for bracelets, they might not bother to read her bracelet even if it’s in Japanese, reasonably but incorrectly assuming her jewellery wasn’t medically relevant.
I can pretty much guarantee that she will get exposed to her allergens at least once while there.
See if you can have a set of business cards printed up with the allergy information on it in japanese and english stating categorically what can not be included in anything she eats, or come in contact with and food or utensils used in cooking and eating so she can give one to the server person just to make it absolutely clear that she has a serious allergy and that whatever can harm her medically.
[I have a card that carries that information about mushrooms in chinese and japanese. I should get a reprint and add korean, vietnamese and thai now there are actually places to eat in Connecticut of the different cuisines.]
This. Allergy bracelets are generally unknown in Japan. Even if she has one, it is safer to assume that first responders won’t look for it, or might not know what it is when they see it.
Epipens are available but uncommon. She should not expect people around her to know what they are or how to use them, or even know whether they have the right to use them should she enter anaphylactic shock. It’s only been a year since kindergarten instructors are legally allowed to use them
That being said, food labeling is actually relatively good, perhaps even better than in the US, relative to the presence of allergens (I’m writing this as the father of a child with food allergies). There’s one particular product we buy that contains seaweed and contains a disclaimer that the seaweed was harvested in an area of the sea where shrimp are known to live. Eating out is going to be the problem, in my opinion. Large restaurant chains have good allergy information but I’m careful with smaller places.
Actually a fair amount of Japanese are also allergic to shellfish. Probably one of the best ways to protect herself would be to mention she’s deathly allergic to ‘kai-rui’ when she’s out with people/visiting someone’s home. Telling folk will usually lead to concern and more questions-all shellfish? cooked and uncooked? etc. She can explain exactly what she has, and I guarantee that anyone she’s with will make sure that whatever they’re ordering doesn’t contain shellfish.
Having said that, this is a country that serves vegetarian dishes with tiny bits of ham in them. Sometimes restaurants simply don’t get that some dietary restrictions are hard-and-fast.
One thing that occurred to me is, even if the dishes she’s served don’t contain shellfish, they will no doubt be prepared in kitchens where shellfish is prepared. I have several friends who simply don’t like sushi and/or fish, so they find plenty of other delicious places to eat. No matter what her dietary restrictions are, she’ll still be spoiled for choice, food-wise!
I work for a medical device company here in Tokyo. I’m sure your daughter will be well taken care of by her school, but I’d also be happy to share contact info if she ever needs help. I’m sure she’ll have a great year!
Thank you, everyone who responded! The information is quite helpful and does ease my mind some. Yes, she has an epipen. It’s good to know she’ll be able to get refills if needed and also get follow-up treatment (presumably, the student health department can help her find where/how to do that). I know it’s months yet before she leaves, but time flies and I wanted to get some things settled well ahead of time.
Thank you! I may take you up on that. She’s really excited about this - she was actually supposed to have gone this year - got approved, passport, all of it - but her University suspended their study abroad to Japan program for a time after the earthquake. They were kind enough to keep her eligible, but told her to wait a year. So next Fall it is. Her dad and I are very excited for her, too - with the usual parental reservations.
This site offers Medic Alert bracelets in Japanese. The site itself is in Japanese, so either your daughter or her advisor may have to look into it for you. (The photos on the site will show you that these are what you are looking for.)
I know nothing about the company (it was just the first one I found after googling likely terms in Japanese) or about whether EMTs there will check for a bracelet as a matter of course, but I am sure you will feel more comfortable if she has it rather than not.
My wife (who is Japanese but is neither a health care worker nor a person who needs a bracelet, but nevertheless knew what they were) says that such things are becoming more common in Japan.
