“Why Don’t Japanese People Smell?” — The Science and Culture Behind Japan’s Odorless Reputation

◆ Introduction: A Question from Curious Travelers

“I visited Japan in the middle of summer, took a packed train—and no one smelled. How is that even possible?”
“In my country, people smell like sweat by noon. In Japan? Nothing.”

These kinds of comments appear regularly on platforms like Reddit, often posted by foreign visitors after traveling in Japan.

The surprise is genuine—and widespread.
Why do Japanese people seem “odorless” to many foreigners? Is it just better hygiene? Genetics? Diet? Or is something deeper going on?

This article explores the scientific and cultural roots of Japan’s reputation for being unusually odorless, not as a judgment or comparison, but as a cross-cultural phenomenon worth understanding.

◆ Quick Answer: It’s Not Just One Thing—It’s Many

Japanese people are often described as “smelling less” not because of one magical reason, but due to a combination of factors, including:

1. Genetic traits that reduce body odor production
2. Cultural values that prioritize cleanliness and non-disturbance
3. Daily habits that minimize odor naturally
4. A diet that’s less likely to cause strong body odors
5. Psychological sensitivity to smell and the unfamiliar

Let’s look at each of these factors in turn.

◆ 1. The Genetic Side: Less Odor, Literally

At the biological level, a gene called ABCC11 plays a major role in how strong a person’s body odor is—especially the scent from underarms.

This gene influences:

• The activity of apocrine glands, which release a type of sweat that interacts with bacteria and produces odor.
• Earwax type: wet vs dry (yes, it’s related!)

Studies show that:

• About 90% of Japanese people carry a version of ABCC11 that produces dry earwax and leads to minimal body odor.
• By contrast, most people in Europe, Africa, and parts of South Asia have the “wet” version, which is linked to more noticeable underarm scent.

So biologically speaking, many Japanese people are simply less likely to produce the compounds that cause strong body odor.

🌀 Note: This is a trend, not a rule. Personal hygiene, health, and hormones all affect odor too—regardless of genes.

◆ 2. Cultural Values: Cleanliness and Harmony

Japan’s culture places an exceptionally high value on cleanliness, personal boundaries, and not disturbing others—especially in shared spaces like trains or offices.

This shows up in everyday behaviors:

• Showering or bathing daily (sometimes twice) is common
• Use of mildly scented or unscented products (e.g. soaps, deodorants)
• Avoidance of strong perfumes (which can be seen as inconsiderate)

In Japanese society, not emitting any scent—good or bad—is often seen as a form of social etiquette.
It aligns with the deeper value of “meiwaku o kakenai” (not causing trouble or inconvenience to others).

Even natural body odor, if perceived as noticeable, can make people self-conscious. As a result, odor control becomes not just personal hygiene, but a form of social awareness.

◆ 3. Everyday Habits That Keep Odor at Bay

Apart from genetic and cultural reasons, Japanese people also tend to engage in daily habits that naturally reduce odor:

• Bathing is seen as part of mental and physical reset—not just cleaning.
• Clothes are washed frequently, especially undergarments and socks.
• Use of non-scented deodorants and body wipes is common, especially in the summer.
• Air-conditioning and humidity control indoors reduce sweat buildup.

It’s not that Japanese people don’t sweat—it’s that they’re often proactively managing it in quiet, unobtrusive ways.

◆ 4. Diet Makes a Difference

What we eat can absolutely affect how we smell—from our sweat to our breath.

Japanese cuisine has traditionally featured:

• Low amounts of animal fat (especially compared to Western diets)
• Minimal dairy
• Seafood, rice, vegetables, fermented foods like miso

This kind of diet is:

• Less likely to cause strong body odors than diets rich in red meat, dairy, or spicy foods
• Better for gut health, which also influences skin and sweat odor

To be clear, modern Japanese diets are changing—but the baseline remains less odor-producing than many meat- and spice-heavy food cultures.

◆ 5. Psychological Factors: The Power of “Difference”

Here’s something that applies globally:

We tend to notice and remember smells that are unfamiliar.

That means:

• A visitor from abroad may perceive a Japanese person as having “no smell”, simply because their scent is subtle and familiar elements (perfume, spice, etc.) are missing.
• Conversely, a Japanese person might feel overwhelmed by a foreigner’s natural body odor or perfume—not because it’s “bad,” but because it’s unusual.

This phenomenon is called olfactory adaptation:

We become desensitized to smells we live with every day—but we’re hypersensitive to anything new.

So the impression of “Japanese people smell less” may be both chemically and perceptually true—a rare case where biology and psychology align.

◆ Cross-Cultural Note: What Foreigners Say Online

Let’s hear directly from global travelers:

✉️ Reddit Comment #1

“No one smells in Japan. Not even in rush hour. It’s crazy.”

✉️ Reddit Comment #2

“I sat next to a Japanese businessman on a packed train for 40 minutes and I couldn’t smell a thing. Unreal.”

✉️ Reddit Comment #3

“In my country, even deodorant can’t help by the afternoon. In Japan, people still smell like soap at night.”

These comments aren’t meant to criticize their own countries—they’re expressions of genuine surprise at how scent-free Japan feels, even in situations where sweat and odor are usually expected.

◆ Final Thoughts: Odorless ≠ Better—It’s Just Different

The key takeaway here isn’t that being odorless is superior—it’s that cultures differ in how they understand and respond to scent.

Some societies embrace perfume, natural musk, or spicy after-scents as part of personal identity. Others—like Japan—lean toward neutrality, subtlety, and social harmony.

Understanding these differences doesn’t just help avoid awkward situations.
It gives us a deeper appreciation for how biology, behavior, and culture work together in complex, fascinating ways.

📘 References

• The Effect of Ethnicity on Human Axillary Odor (PMC)
• Intrinsic and Extrinsic Factors Affecting Axillary Odor (Di Cicco et al., 2023)
• Microbial Origins of Body Odor (ASM)
• Reddit thread: “Do people from other races smell different to you?”