Komiya Shoten's Western-style umbrella making

Handmade umbrellas made in Japan by artisans

Komiya Shoten's Western-style umbrella making

ABOUT
OUR
UMBRELLA

Comfortable warmth,
A beautiful, handcrafted umbrella that connects people's feelings

Since its founding in 1930, Komiya Shoten has
Umbrellas as part of fashion
We hope that you will use it for a long time.
I continue making umbrellas today.

Putting our feelings into one umbrella

Komiya Shoten's umbrellas are made by craftsmen who go through the numerous steps of the umbrella making process one by one by hand. It starts with making your own wooden mold, then adjusting the tension of the fabric and the stitching as if you are having a conversation with the craftsman to create an umbrella.
The dignified way it is held, the sound it makes when opened, the feel in your hand, the sound of rain hitting it, and the beautiful shape. The quality of construction and comfort can be felt because it is made with care. When the umbrella is opened, may those cares be passed on to the user.

Fashion

Expressing fashion through traditional techniques

We want to provide umbrellas that can continue to be used as fashion items even as trends change with the times.
Making the most of the traditional twisting, dyeing, printing, warping, and weaving techniques of Koshu weaving, we aim to express its beauty in our umbrellas by paying particular attention to even the most delicate nuances of color and pursuing designs that are unique to Komiya Shoten.
While providing functionality that can accommodate a variety of lifestyles, we remain true to the stylized beauty of Western-style umbrellas and will continue to improve our products and take on new challenges in order to convey their appeal to as many people as possible.

Japanese umbrellas that can be used as fashion accessories

Craftsmanship

Shape is the heart of the umbrella

The "shape" of an umbrella is determined by its "mold."
An umbrella mold is a curved triangular wooden mold used when cutting fabric, and craftsmen create one for each type of umbrella. The length and angle of the wooden mold are adjusted down to the millimeter to match the fabric and frame, and the best mold is completed through repeated trial and error. The soul of the craftsman is put into this, and it creates the beautiful umbrella shape that Komiya Shoten has been particular about since its founding.

Komiya Shoten considers this "shape" that has been cherished until now to be the "heart" of an umbrella, and created the HAND MADE mark based on this motif. This mark is proof that the craftsmen put their heart into making the umbrella. We will continue to make umbrellas with even more sincerity, passing on this traditional spirit to the next generation.

The process of making an umbrella: saddle stitching

The umbrella making process

Even in today's world where mechanization is on the rise, umbrella making is still a product that requires human hands in almost every step of the process. The finished product depends on the experience and knowledge of the craftsman. Here, we will introduce the umbrella making process at Komiya Shoten, which is supported by such handiwork.

The umbrella making process

Tradition

Inheritance of work

"Rokuromaki" is a method of covering the roller with fabric to prevent hands from getting hurt when opening the umbrella.
"Dabomaki" is a technique in which the dabo, the part of the bone that touches the dough, is protected with dough.
The name tag is hand sewn to prevent the fabric from being damaged.
A "jinbaori" with a cap to further improve its waterproofness.
The "tension" of the umbrella is designed to achieve beautiful form.
From master to apprentice, who then becomes a master and then an apprentice. We will continue to pass on the techniques and passion that have been handed down since our founding in 1930 to the next generation.

The tradition of umbrella making continues

Tokyo Umbrellas: A Traditional Craft of Tokyo

Tokyo's Western-style umbrella making, which has continued since the Meiji era, was designated a traditional craft of Tokyo as "Tokyo Western Umbrellas" in 2018. Western-style umbrellas, which were brought over from the West at the end of the Edo period, have inherited Tokyo's careful handiwork and sensibility and continue to live on in the present day as a new traditional craft.

Tokyo Umbrellas: A Traditional Craft of Tokyo

Sustainability

With the hope that you will use it for a long time

We provide aftercare such as maintenance and repairs for umbrellas purchased from Komiya Shoten. In addition to repairs, we also accept consultations on maintenance.

Umbrella repair