Due to its geographical location, Japan has a rainy season that lasts for almost a whole month. Japanese people have been adapting to this natural phenomenon since medieval times by using oil-paper umbrellas. Over the centuries, these umbrellas became a status symbol and an art form – Wagasa (和傘).

Making a Wagasa involves more than a hundred different steps. It also takes a dozen seasoned craftsmen and several months to complete. The frame is made out of carefully-carved bamboo which is put under tension by strings, connecting the handle with the frame on which the oiled paper is applied. Some Wagasa get painted with Japanese symbols and artworks. Those umbrellas are unique pieces of art.

Initially, the Wagasa was a sacred instrument in Buddhist ceremonies. During the Heian period, techniques in paper production and bamboo work improved. During the Muromachi period, craftsmen started applying pigments and wax to the paper for additional resistance to water.

Wagasa appear quite often in Japanese culture, and are often associated with Geisha, traditional dance, tea ceremony and daily utility including wedding ceremonies. Some Wagasa shops classify customers into categories according to their preferences. For example, dancers tend to choose pink Wagasa while actors tend to favor black or brown. Different colors have different connotations and meanings – at traditional weddings, brides usually carry a red umbrella. In recent years, the demand for Wagasa has declined due to the rise in popularity of western umbrellas, which are also much cheaper to produce.
Have you ever seen a Wagasa?

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