Tracing the story of KOUMORIUMBRELLA, an umbrella as a work of craftsmanship.

A single umbrella to use for a long time

Western-style umbrellas first arrived in Japan during the Meiji era. They were such luxury items that one hesitated to even use them, and it's said that people would have their one umbrella repaired by craftsmen and cherish it for many years. Quite the opposite of today's mass-produced umbrellas, where losing one prompts little more than a shrug, these were made with sturdy fabric materials and may well have been objects of admiration, much like what we'd now call craftwork.

Tracing these roots, gathering Japanese craftsmen once again, and bringing together each of their techniques is how the dignified KOUMORIUMBRELLA came into being.

Contents

・The skills of Japanese craftsmen brought together in a single umbrella

・A valuable koumori umbrella, revived for the present day

・Selecting parts without sparing any effort

・Designed to be cherished and used for a long time

The skills of Japanese craftsmen brought together in a single umbrella

Making a single umbrella involves specialists for each part—the fabric shop, embroidery shop, weaving shop, dyeing shop, pattern shop, waterproofing shop, rib shop, handle shop, ferrule tips, buttons, rings, plates, cords, and more. Gathering all of these as Japanese-made is by no means a simple task.

Most umbrellas today are made overseas, with parts simplified for efficiency, but we wanted to unravel that history and create something with visible faces behind the making, domestically. As much as possible, we visited the workshops ourselves, entrusting the production of each part—from manufacturing to finishing—to skilled craftsmen. The result is this umbrella. Here we introduce KOUMORIUMBRELLA, which once again pursues the details that mass-produced umbrellas tend to leave out.

In the past, umbrellas in England were sometimes used as decorative items too. Among the aristocracy, it's said that carrying a closed umbrella in one hand—even while it was raining—was a way of showing off that one had servants, since "having one hand occupied posed no inconvenience." Umbrellas, which had also become a symbol of wealth, often featured handles decorated with brass or silver. There were even craftsmen whose profession was rolling umbrellas thin and neatly, like a walking stick. A neatly rolled, slim umbrella carried that much value, and was regarded as an important mark of refinement.

We no longer live in an age of flashy decoration meant to display one's status, but when you look closely at the craftsmanship behind KOUMORIUMBRELLA, you'll notice a special beauty that goes far beyond simply keeping the rain off.

A valuable koumori umbrella, revived for the present day

When many umbrellas first arrived in Japan from the West, their open shape resembled a black bat (koumori), which is the origin of the name. Until then, umbrellas made of washi (Japanese paper) and bamboo had been the mainstream, with separate umbrellas used for sun and rain depending on the purpose. The umbrellas that arrived from the West, however, could be used for both sun and rain, and their novelty and convenience made them wildly popular.

KOUMORIUMBRELLA (koumori umbrella) takes its name from the koumori umbrella, which became the general term for Western-style umbrellas, along with our hope for umbrellas that spread throughout the world.

Selecting parts without sparing any effort

KOUMORIUMBRELLA umbrellas feature a simple design that never grows tiresome, along with parts that tell the story of the umbrella's history. The first thing to notice is its slim, tightly rolled silhouette.

Long ago there were craftsmen who specialized in rolling umbrellas, and rolling one thin and neatly required real skill. With this umbrella, however, you can achieve a beautifully rolled shape simply by closing it the same way as any ordinary umbrella. Because such care is put into the fabric parts, the umbrella looks beautiful whether closed or open, giving it a dignified presence as you carry it.

Next is the handle, made of tamo (Japanese ash) wood, curved like the katakana character "レ." This pointed, distinctive shape is said to have been common in the era when umbrellas were closer to craftwork. Tamo wood, also used in furniture, is prized for its beautiful grain and luster, but it is hard and strong, requiring the material to be carved out piece by piece with considerable processing skill—which is why this style is rarely seen today.

The KOUMORIUMBRELLA logo appears on the part called the "tengami," visible when the umbrella is opened. As umbrellas became mass-produced, this part was often simplified, and today what remains in most cases is just a piece of matching fabric inserted purely for function. KOUMORIUMBRELLA, however, has carefully preserved this detail and placed the brand's name there.

A straight, taut "upper runner spring." This is the name for the metal fitting that holds the umbrella open. This part uses piano wire, a material known for its springiness and elasticity. Piano wire is famous for its exceptional strength, and provides a stable mechanism for the runner spring—a material choice made with many years of future use in mind.

Brass, which develops its own character over time, is used throughout in other small details as well, and because the textile itself is so simple, these details stand out all the more.

Caring for Your Umbrella So It Lasts

Looking back through history, umbrellas that were once considered luxurious or crafted works of art can now be owned by anyone, in any number. Still, an umbrella you love, or one that's especially beautiful, deserves to be cared for after use so you can keep using it for a long time.

Caring for the Umbrella Fabric

If you fold up a sun-and-rain umbrella while it's still wet from the rain, it can lead to water stains or rust. If you'd like to keep it looking its best, wipe it lightly, open it up indoors, and let it air-dry in the shade before folding it away.

If the umbrella is used frequently in direct sunlight or stored in such a place, the fold lines may discolor from sun exposure over time. Rather than viewing this as deterioration, we hope you'll enjoy it as a natural sign of aging.

Caring for the Brass Parts

If you're particular about their appearance, simply wiping them with a cloth after use is enough.

Brass parts may, on rare occasions, develop a type of rust called rokushou (verdigris) if exposed to moisture for extended periods. If you're concerned about its appearance, mix household vinegar with an equal amount of salt, apply it to a cloth, and rub it directly onto the affected area to polish away the verdigris. Afterward, wash the part with dish soap, rinse, and wipe dry.

In the world of Japanese art, the distinctive color of verdigris is sometimes deliberately incorporated as a decorative effect. So rather than removing it entirely, you might choose to let a bit of verdigris remain and enjoy it as part of the umbrella's character.

It's also a natural characteristic of the material that the surface shine dulls somewhat from being handled by hand over time. You can restore the original shine using a commercial metal polish or polishing cloth, though keep in mind that polishing will also wear down the surface slightly. We hope you'll think of this as adding character, and enjoy growing more attached to it the more you use it.

About Repairs

From simple repairs that just require stitching to fixes that involve replacing parts, we can carry out whatever repair is needed for issues that arise through use. (*Depending on the condition, repair may not always be possible.)

▼Examples of Repairs

・The tsuyusaki (rib tip) or a button has come off

・The stitching that holds the ribs and fabric together has come undone

・A rib or the shaft has become bent

・A part has broken, and so on

If your umbrella ever breaks, please feel free to get in touch with us.

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KOUMORIUMBRELLA's umbrellas remind us what it means to truly craft an umbrella—reviving parts that have been left out in the name of mass production. These umbrellas carry on tradition, faithfully recreating the meticulous attention to detail made possible through the skill of skilled artisans.

Back when umbrellas were closer to being works of craft, it was simply natural to have a single umbrella repaired and keep using it. We've introduced KOUMORIUMBRELLA, a brand that reminds us once again of the value of taking good care of the things we own. With its simple black design suited to any occasion, a KOUMORIUMBRELLA umbrella is something we'd recommend as an item to keep using for years to come.