Japanese condo installs "air-shower" for allergy sufferers

We've seen condominiums offer numerous perks to attract different demographics before -- gyms for the fitness-minded, hot tubs for the party-minded, laundry services for the dirty and lazy -- but we've never heard of one playing up a feature to target allergy sufferers. Well Japanese complex Riche Tamagawa Riverside has had enough of the sneezing, congestion and red noses that must have been running rampant throughout the building, as employees recently installed an "air-shower" near one of the entrances that blows dust, pollen and other allergens right off residents' clothing. Frequent travelers may be familiar with these compressed-air showers from certain airport security screening stations, where the machines are used not to keep your flight sniffle-free but to ensure that you weren't playing around with explosives before boarding. The 12-nozzle system at the Tokyo location has proven so popular that building owners are considering deploying the units to other housing developments as well, causing hay fever sufferers to rejoice but those with high-maintenance hairdos to recoil in horror.

[Deluxe @ Mar 15th 2006 8:45PM]

I got enough hair-gel to survive even the nastiest of typhoons, but I dont know how well my girlfriend would take to it ;).

[Joe Smith @ Mar 15th 2006 9:07PM]

Wouldn't this kinda hurt? I mean, air that powerful hitting you in the balls would surely kill (and when you try to escape, there are 11 more high pressure nozzles).

[gezepi @ Mar 15th 2006 10:56PM]

It's probably not that powerful, just enough to push some dust around. The little girl in the photo doesn't seem to be recoiling in pain.

[Mark M @ Mar 15th 2006 11:11PM]

That's becuase the picture was taken the split second before the skin was blown off their head. Look at that, the father knows what's up, he didn't send his first born in, did he! DIIIIDDD HEEE!!!!

[Naids @ Mar 16th 2006 12:46AM]

Is this not the same thing thats used in the CN tower in Toronto?

[Midnightbrewer @ Mar 16th 2006 4:34AM]

Considering how many Japanese suffer from really bad spring allergies (not to mention rice chaff alergies in the fall), this seems like a really good idea.

[Yrian @ Mar 16th 2006 6:43AM]

It totally blows the concept of natural selection.

[Jaison @ Mar 16th 2006 7:50AM]

I think it is a great idea.

[Travis @ Mar 16th 2006 6:48PM]

Man, add this to a cat door, and I'll pay good money for one.

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