The Secret Meaning of Umbrellas in Japan

In most parts of the world, umbrellas are simply used to protect people from rain or sun.

In Japan, many locals can also be seen using these objects for the same purpose. But they also have a much more powerful function in Japanese culture: they are spiritual vehicles.

Tatsuo Danjyo, Professor Emeritus of Humanities at Beppu University in Ōita Prefecture, Japan, explains that, according to Japanese tradition, certain objects can serve as yorishiro (attracting gods or spirits). One of these is the umbrella.

This belief is deeply rooted in the country's history.

Umbrellas appeared in Japan between the 9th and 11th centuries. But instead of protecting people from bad weather, they served as symbols of political or spiritual power.

Early umbrellas, like the long-handled sashikake-gasa , were reserved for political and religious authorities—and servants held them to protect the elite.

"Japanese people tend to have an animistic way of thinking," Danjyo told the BBC.

"The circular shape [of the umbrella] resembles the shape of a soul and the handle looks like a pillar... it was believed to be an accessible place for a soul to descend."

Danjyo claims that by the 12th century, umbrellas became much more widely used by the general public. And, throughout the following centuries, their spiritual significance remained.

This spiritual meaning is now remembered at festivals across the country.

At the Yasurai Matsuri held annually in Kyoto city in the second week of April, it is believed that umbrellas decorated with flowers ward off evil and illness from people.

During the Hakata Donkatu festival, held annually on May 3rd and 4th in the northern Japanese city of Fukuoka, countless suspended kasaboko parade through the streets. Passing under one is believed to bring blessings of good health and good fortune.

On the island of Okinoshima in Kōchi Prefecture, residents create brightly decorated umbrella structures every August 13th to 16th to shelter the spirits of the recently deceased during the annual Obon festival.

On the night of August 16th, every other year, umbrellas are carried in a ritual dance around a central platform. They symbolically guide the spirits back to the spirit world safely.

Umbrellas even inspired one of Japan's most well-known supernatural figures: the kasa yokai ("umbrella spirit"). These supernatural spirits appear in historical works of art, such as the ancient paintings of the Night Parade of 100 Demons, which depict abandoned household objects coming back to life.

Often depicted with one eye and a singular appearance, kasa yokai reflect Japan's animistic belief that even objects can have a spirit, especially those that have been employed, used, and eventually discarded.

Tourists interested in the history and craftsmanship of traditional Japanese umbrellas can experience them in person at workshops and museums throughout the country.

So the next time you open an umbrella in Japan, especially if it's a wagasa (a traditional paper umbrella), remember that it can do a lot more than just keep you from getting wet.

Want to learn more?

Yodoe Umbrella Folklore Museum: This museum, in Tottori City, southwestern Japan, showcases the region's wagasa and their connection to local beliefs. Visitors can also participate in umbrella-making workshops.

Kyoto Tsujikura: Founded in 1690, it is considered the oldest traditional umbrella maker in Japan. Its Kyoto workshop offers visitors the opportunity to make their own miniature wagasa umbrellas , from a selection of colors and designs.

Matsuda Wagasa: In Kanazawa, southwestern Japan, rain and snow are common year-round. Matsuda Wagasa (founded in 1896) is the city's last traditional umbrella shop. To withstand Kanazawa's humid climate, wagasa are handcrafted over two months using thick washi paper, sturdy bamboo, and unique reinforcing techniques.

Read the original version of this story (in English) on the BBC Travel website .