Parasols are an age-old solution to today’s crippling heat - The Japan Times

Oct 16, 2024

While many cultures take sun protection seriously, Japan has surpassed every other in its umbrella and parasol consumption, selling over 100 million annually.

They can be a terror at times — especially when wielded by a shaky elder on a bike — but daily life in Japan has built itself around their use: stands outside every convenience store, plastic umbrella bags at the entryway of department stores on rainy days, and anti-theft umbrella lockers at some establishments. Umbrella theft is even a major plot point in movies such as Ryosuke Hashiguchi’s 2001 film “Hush!”

As summer 2024 heats up with record temperatures, let’s take a look at how umbrellas and parasols came to hold such a special place in Japanese society and how you can optimize your parasol usage to stay (relatively) cool.

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