One of Tokyo’s last handmade umbrella shops has weathered many storms. It is now thriving thanks to booming demand for parasols as Japanese summers get hotter.
“You’ll feel cool under a parasol... Once you use it, you can’t let go,” says Hiroyuki Komiya, the owner of Komiya Shoten.
Komiya’s grandfather started the business 93 years ago.
It used to be one of 70 shops selling handmade umbrellas in Tokyo. But now only Komiya Shoten and a few others remain in the city, pushed out of business by cheap plastic umbrellas on sale in every convenience store.
Komiya Shoten uses quality textiles made in Japan. Its umbrellas are handmade by craftworkers with ancient techniques.
But their products also use modern technology, with materials that block the light.
They last longer but they are not cheap.
However, the family business has now found a niche in making “luxury” umbrellas.
Now, sales are going up, including for parasols.
“We’re experiencing hot summers, and more people are using parasols to stay cool,” Komiya says.
