A woman with a parasol was crossing the Iidabashi pedestrian crossing alone

Many women walk around with parasols in the summer because they not only avoid strong sunlight but also block ultraviolet rays, which are a dangerous enemy of the skin. Recently, it is reported in the media that not only women but also men are using parasols in increasing numbers. However, the majority of people who use them are women. It is said that parasols became common in Japan when Western-style culture spread from the Taisho era (1912-1926) to the early Showa era (1926-1989). As it became fashionable to match Western-style accessories with Japanese clothes, parasols also became a common item for women.

When I look into the situation in Europe, the origin of the Western-style culture that spread in Japan, I find that, surprisingly, the parasol has fallen into disuse in modern Europe. It is true that many people in Europe with light-colored eyes wear sunglasses to prevent eye diseases caused by ultraviolet rays, but there is not many images of people walking around with parasols. While people in Europe want to prevent eye diseases, they seem to want to tan their skin, unlike the Japanese. A parasol may be inconvenient for tanning the skin. The custom of using a parasol, as depicted in Monet's "Woman with a Parasol," has been replaced by the use of sunglasses. The Japanese parasol culture may soon be replaced by sunglasses in the same way.