Do You Know About Wagasa (Traditional Japanese Umbrella)?
Do You Know About Wagasa (Traditional Japanese Umbrella)? How to Borrow Wagasa for Free What is Wagasa (Traditional Japanese Umbrella)? Wagasa is a traditional Japanese umbrella made by attaching Washi paper to a frame crafted from natural materials such as bamboo, wood, and thread. The number of ribs varies depending on the type and purpose requiring many ribs. One of the beauties of wagasa is that it looks like a single piece of bamboo when folded. There are various types of wagasa, including “Bangasa,” “Janomegasa,” “Higasa,” and “Maigasa.” Those treated with vegetable oil on the washi paper attached to the ribs are used as rain umbrellas, with “Bangasa” and “Janomegasa” being the most common types of rain umbrellas. History of Wagasa Wagasa was introduced to Japan from China along with Buddhist culture around the 6th century. Initially, they were large umbrellas that could not be opened or closed, used by attendants to shield high-ranking individuals from the sun and ward off evil spirits. During the Edo period (1603-1868), Wagasa was improved and became widely used. Furthermore, daimyos encouraged the production of Wagasa as a local industry, leading to their spread across the country. Replacing the oiled paper of
