The History of Komiya Shoten

Komiya Shoten founded

1930

At that time, umbrellas used by ordinary Japanese people were generally "bangasa," which had a bamboo frame covered in Japanese paper and oiled, while "Western umbrellas," which had iron frames and were covered in fabrics such as silk or cotton, were luxury ornaments that only a limited number of people could afford.
In this environment, Komiya Shoten was founded in Hamacho, Chuo Ward, Tokyo. The founder, Komiya Hosho, began making Western-style umbrellas using Koshu weaving from his hometown, Yamanashi.

Around 1945

Shortly thereafter, war arrived, and Komiya Shoten's store was burned down in an air raid. Material restrictions meant that the company was unable to produce as it wanted, and the company faced many hardships.
However, after the war, the store was rebuilt in Higashi-Nihonbashi amidst the burnt ruins, and the company began its recovery from scratch.

The umbrella industry is at its peak when a new "cheap umbrella made overseas" appears

Around 1965

At that time, Japan was the world's number one in umbrella production, consumption, and export. In the Higashi-Nihonbashi area where Komiya Shoten is located, there were more than 70 umbrella-related shops lined up, with many umbrella craftsmen, and the industry was full of vitality. Komiya Shoten also experienced the happy cry of "we can't keep up with demand no matter how much we make."

Early Heisei Period

However, this situation did not last long, and with the oil crisis and the collapse of the bubble economy, many umbrella companies moved the focus of their production to Asian countries where labor costs were low.

With no opportunity to work, many Japanese umbrella craftsmen were forced to go out of business, and the numerous umbrella shops that once existed went bankrupt one after another due to price destruction.

*Currently, there are only a few umbrella makers in Tokyo that make Japanese-made umbrellas.