The Origin and History of Parasols: Why Men Using Sun Umbrellas Is Not New

A parasol is not a new summer gadget.

Today, people in Japan sometimes use the phrase “higasa danshi,” meaning men who use parasols or sun umbrellas. But men using parasols is not a completely new cultural trend.

In fact, parasols have a much longer history than rain umbrellas.

In ancient times, parasols were used to show royal or aristocratic status. In Japan, umbrella-like canopies were introduced as ceremonial objects, and by the Edo period, umbrellas and parasols had become part of everyday life, fashion, and urban culture.

Modern parasols are now being reevaluated not only as beauty items, but also as practical tools for heat protection, UV protection, and daily comfort.

This article explains why parasols became popular, how they help protect against heat and sunlight, where parasols came from, how they developed in Japan, and why men using parasols may feel new even though the practice has historical roots.

Why Did Parasols Become Popular?

The modern spread of parasols is not only about avoiding sunburn.

UV protection is still important.

But in recent years, parasols have also become tools for protecting the body from intense summer heat.

Parasols Have Shifted From Beauty Items to Heat Protection Tools

For a long time, parasols were often seen as items for women who wanted to avoid sunburn.

But as summers have become hotter, parasols have taken on a broader role.

They are no longer only about protecting the skin.

They are also about protecting the body.

When direct sunlight hits your head, shoulders, arms, and neck, your body absorbs more heat. A parasol blocks that sunlight and creates a small area of shade around you.

In that sense, a parasol is a portable shade.

That is one reason it feels so intuitive as a modern heat protection tool.

People are not only using parasols to avoid tanning. They are using them to make summer walking and commuting more bearable.

Men and Children Are Using Parasols More Often

Parasol use is no longer limited to women.

Men carrying parasols are more common in Japanese cities than they used to be.

The reason is simple: extreme heat has become harder to ignore.

For people walking to work in suits, commuting long distances, accompanying children outdoors, or moving through sun-exposed streets, avoiding direct sunlight is no longer just a matter of appearance.

It is a matter of health and comfort.

Parasols are also being discussed as a way to help protect children from heat during school commutes and outdoor events.

In other words, a parasol is no longer only a fashionable accessory.

It is becoming a practical tool used across gender and age.

Modern Parasols Have Become More Functional

Another reason parasols have spread is that the products themselves have improved.

Today, many parasols are designed with high light-blocking fabrics, UV protection, heat-shielding materials, lightweight frames, compact folding structures, and rain-compatible coatings.

All-weather parasols are especially important.

If a parasol can be used on both sunny and rainy days, it becomes easier to carry every day.

It is no longer a tool you use only when the sun is strong.

It becomes an everyday umbrella that also protects you from sunlight.

The spread of parasols is therefore not only about hotter summers.

It is also about the evolution of parasols into practical daily tools.

Do Parasols Work? How They Protect Against Heat and UV Rays

The effect of a parasol is not limited to preventing sunburn.

A parasol creates shade above and around the body.

That shade reduces exposure to direct sunlight, radiant heat, and ultraviolet rays.

A Parasol Creates Portable Shade

The clearest benefit of a parasol is that it lets you carry shade with you.

Even on a street with no trees or buildings nearby, a parasol creates shade over your head and upper body.

In summer, outdoor heat is not only about air temperature.

Direct sunlight itself places a burden on the body.

A parasol blocks some of that solar radiation before it reaches your head, face, neck, and shoulders.

That is why you may feel cooler under a parasol even when the air temperature has not changed.

Blocking Direct Sunlight and Radiant Heat Matters More Than Lowering Air Temperature

A parasol does not lower the temperature of the entire street.

But it can reduce the heat your body receives.

Outdoor heat is shaped by many factors: air temperature, sunlight, reflected heat from pavement, heat from buildings, humidity, and wind.

A parasol mainly works by reducing the direct sunlight and radiant heat that reach your body.

That is why it can help even though it does not change the weather.

It changes your personal heat environment.

A Parasol Covers More of the Body Than a Hat

A hat is also useful in summer.

It protects the head and leaves both hands free.

But a parasol has a different advantage.

It can cover the head, face, neck, shoulders, arms, and upper body more broadly.

A hat protects the top of the head, but the neck, shoulders, and arms may still be exposed to sunlight.

A parasol requires one hand, which is a disadvantage.

But it creates a wider area of shade.

The right choice depends on the situation.

For commuting or walking around town, a parasol may be useful.

For cycling, working with both hands, or active outdoor tasks, a hat may be more practical.

Fan Clothing, Hats, and Parasols Work in Different Situations

Parasols are only one type of heat protection.

Hats and fan-equipped clothing can also help.

Fan-equipped clothing circulates air inside the garment and helps sweat evaporate. If a parasol blocks direct sunlight, fan clothing creates airflow around the body.

For long outdoor work, construction sites, farming, event work, or situations where both hands are needed, fan clothing may be more practical than a parasol. For more on how fan clothing works and how it is viewed overseas, see fan-equipped clothing and overseas reactions.

On the other hand, for commuting, city walking, and short outdoor movement, a parasol can be easier to use because it does not require changing clothes.

Parasols, hats, and fan clothing are not rivals.

They are different tools for different kinds of heat.

The Origin and History of Parasols

The history of parasols is older than the history of rain umbrellas.

Today, many people think of umbrellas as tools for rain.

But if we trace the origin of umbrellas, we find that they began as tools for shade.

Parasols Date Back About 4,000 Years to Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia

The origin of parasols is often traced back about 4,000 years to ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, and nearby regions.

In hot climates, parasols were used to create shade over rulers and high-status people.

Early parasols were not foldable like modern umbrellas.

They were closer to fixed sunshades made from a pole and materials such as cloth, leaves, or feathers.

They looked very different from today’s folding umbrellas.

But the basic function was the same:

to create shade above a person.

In Ancient Times, Parasols Showed Royal and Aristocratic Status

Ancient parasols were not merely practical sun protection.

They also symbolized status.

When attendants held large parasols above kings, nobles, or religious figures, the object did more than block sunlight.

It showed that the person beneath it was important.

In this way, a parasol was both a shade tool and a visible sign of authority.

That is quite different from the modern image of a personal sun umbrella.

Today, parasols are practical personal items.

In ancient times, they were also symbols of hierarchy and dignity.

Parasol Culture Reached Japan Through China

Parasol and umbrella culture spread across Asia over time.

In China, umbrella-like tools developed for shade, ceremony, and status.

These objects later influenced Japan.

Early Japanese umbrellas were not everyday tools like modern rain umbrellas or sun umbrellas.

They were closer to ceremonial objects used to express rank, protection, and formality.

Again, the umbrella was not only a tool.

It was also a cultural object.

In Japan, the Kinugasa Appeared Around the Asuka Period

In Japan, a long-handled canopy called kinugasa is said to have appeared around the Asuka period.

A kinugasa was a large fabric-covered canopy used in court ceremonies, Buddhist rituals, and formal settings.

It was not something ordinary people carried around freely like a modern parasol.

It protected noble figures from sunlight and helped express the dignity of the occasion.

The early history of parasols in Japan is therefore tied to ceremony and status, not only daily comfort.

Wagasa Culture Spread Among Common People in the Edo Period

By the Edo period, Japanese umbrella culture had become part of everyday life.

Traditional Japanese umbrellas, or wagasa, were made with bamboo ribs and washi paper, often treated with oil to resist rain.

Umbrellas such as bangasa and janomegasa became familiar objects in urban life.

Parasols also took on meanings beyond simple shade.

They were connected with fashion, status, seasonal feeling, and town culture.

Western-Style Umbrellas Spread in the Meiji Period

In the Meiji period, Western-style umbrellas with metal frames and fabric canopies became more common in Japan.

Compared with many traditional wagasa, these umbrellas were lighter, easier to open and close, and suited to modern daily use.

As Western clothing spread, Western-style umbrellas also entered everyday life.

This helped create the path toward the modern rain umbrellas and parasols used today.

From ancient symbols of authority to ceremonial canopies, wagasa, Western umbrellas, and modern heat protection tools, parasols have changed their form many times.

Parasol Culture in the Edo Period

Edo-period parasol culture is more diverse than many modern readers might expect.

Parasols were not only women’s accessories.

They were also used by doctors, monks, townspeople, and men in various contexts.

Illustrated Parasols Were Enjoyed as Fashion by Women

In the Edo period, parasols were also part of women’s fashion.

Illustrated parasols, known as ehigasa, were appreciated for their colors, designs, and seasonal style.

They did more than block the sun.

They complemented kimono, hairstyles, posture, and the visual rhythm of walking through town.

In this sense, parasols were practical objects and fashion objects at the same time.

Doctors and Monks Used Blue Parasols

Doctors and monks are said to have used blue parasols, or aohigasa.

For people with shaved heads, avoiding direct sunlight had practical value.

This is different from the modern image of parasols as beauty items for women.

In this case, parasols were used for practical shade based on occupation and physical need.

This alone shows that parasols were not always limited to women.

Parasols Also Spread Among Townspeople

Parasols were not limited to elites.

They also spread among townspeople.

In Edo urban culture, umbrellas and parasols were part of daily life, fashion, and seasonal expression.

People cared not only about convenience, but also about appearance, taste, and trend.

Parasols therefore belonged to a culture where usefulness and style overlapped.

Wagasa Craftsmanship Supported Parasol Culture

Parasol culture was supported not only by users, but also by makers.

Traditional Japanese umbrellas required careful handwork.

They were made from materials such as bamboo, washi paper, thread, oil, lacquer, and glue.

The ribs had to be shaped.

The paper had to be pasted.

The surface had to be dried, treated, and finished.

Each step affected the umbrella’s usability and beauty.

This kind of craftsmanship connects to broader Japanese ideas of careful making and responsibility toward the user. For more on Japanese craft values, see Japanese shokunin spirit.

Parasols Were Sometimes Restricted as Luxury Items

Parasols were useful, but they were also sometimes seen as luxury items.

In the Edo period, rules and sumptuary regulations could restrict clothing, accessories, and displays of wealth depending on class, region, and period.

There are records of parasols being restricted when they were associated with luxury or fashionable excess.

This suggests that parasols were not merely practical tools.

They were also connected to fashion, status, and urban culture.

Because they became visible and desirable, they could also become targets of regulation.

Why Do Men Using Parasols Feel Like a New Trend?

Today, when men use parasols, many people see it as a new trend.

But history shows that men and parasols are not strangers.

So why does it feel new?

Men Used Parasols in the Edo Period

Men used parasols in the Edo period.

Doctors and monks used blue parasols, and parasols also appeared in town culture.

Of course, this does not mean every man used a parasol every day.

But it does mean that men using parasols was not culturally impossible.

The modern “higasa danshi” is not a completely new invention.

It is one expression of a much older relationship between people and shade.

In Modern Times, Parasols Became Strongly Associated With Women

In the modern period, parasols became more strongly associated with women.

Western clothing, hats, beauty culture, advertising, and product design all likely contributed to this image.

However, this point should be handled carefully.

The decline of men’s parasol use cannot be explained by one simple cause.

It is more natural to see it as the result of several overlapping factors: clothing styles, urban life, fashion, beauty standards, product marketing, and ideas about masculinity.

Modern Men Using Parasols May Be a Reevaluation of a Practical Culture

The return of men using parasols in Japan is not just a fashion trend.

It reflects a growing recognition that summer heat is a real daily problem.

Historically, parasols have been symbols of authority, ceremonial objects, fashion accessories, and practical shade tools.

Today’s men using parasols may represent the return of one of those older meanings: the parasol as a practical tool.

In other words, men using parasols is not simply a new culture.

It may be the reevaluation of a practical culture that had been pushed to the margins for a time.

How to Choose a Modern Parasol

Once we understand the history of parasols, it becomes clear that they are not merely trendy accessories.

But how should we choose one today?

Here are the practical points many people search for when buying or using a parasol.

What Is the Difference Between Full Light Blocking and UV Protection?

UV protection refers mainly to how well the fabric blocks ultraviolet rays.

Light blocking or full blackout refers to how much visible light the fabric blocks.

If your main concern is UV exposure, check the UV protection rating.

If your concern is glare, brightness, and heat from sunlight, check the light-blocking and heat-shielding performance as well.

Product labels can vary, so it is useful to look separately at UV protection, light blocking, and heat shielding.

Is a Black or White Parasol Cooler?

Many people wonder whether black or white parasols are better.

In general, black absorbs light and white reflects it.

But with parasols, the answer is not only about the outside color.

A dark inner surface may help reduce reflected glare from the ground.

Some parasols use a light outer surface to reflect sunlight and a dark inner surface to reduce reflected light.

That is why the fabric structure and coating matter more than color alone.

Can All-Weather Parasols Be Used in the Rain?

All-weather parasols are designed for both sun and rain.

But not all of them are equally strong in heavy rain.

Some are suitable for light rain or sudden showers.

Others have stronger water-repellent performance and can be used more like regular rain umbrellas.

For everyday carry, an all-weather parasol is convenient.

But if you expect heavy rain, check the water resistance, size, and frame strength.

Should You Choose a Long Parasol or a Folding Parasol?

A long parasol is easier to open and often creates a larger area of shade.

If you use a parasol every day for commuting or walking, a long parasol can feel more reliable.

A folding parasol is easier to carry.

If it fits in your bag, you can use it whenever the sun becomes strong.

For daily dedicated use, a long parasol may be better.

For portability, a folding parasol may be better.

The best choice depends on your lifestyle.

How Long Does a Parasol Last, and How Should You Care for It?

Parasols do not last forever.

UV coatings, water-repellent treatments, and fabric performance can weaken depending on use, friction, dirt, and storage conditions.

After use, it is best to dry the parasol, wipe off dirt gently, and store it only after it is fully dry.

Storing it while wet can lead to odor, mold, and fabric deterioration.

If the fabric looks worn, the water repellency weakens, or the shade feels less effective, it may be time to replace it.

Conclusion: Men Using Parasols Is Not a New Culture

Parasols are not new.

Their origin goes back to ancient times, when they were used to shade rulers and express authority.

In Japan, canopy-like objects such as kinugasa appeared around the Asuka period and were used in ceremonial and formal settings.

By the Edo period, umbrella culture had spread more widely, and parasols appeared as fashion items, practical shade tools, and parts of town culture.

Men using parasols is not completely new either.

The modern image of parasols as women’s items became stronger in later periods, but today, as summers grow hotter, the practical value of parasols is being rediscovered.

In Japan, people have long found ways to soften the experience of heat through shade, wind, sound, and tools. Wind chimes are another example of this culture of sensing coolness. For more on how wind chimes became a symbol of summer, see why furin wind chimes became a Japanese summer tradition.

A parasol is a tool for carrying shade.

And today’s men using parasols may not be following a strange new trend.

They may be rediscovering an old, practical way of living with summer heat.

FAQ

When did parasols originate?

Parasols are often traced back about 4,000 years to ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, and nearby regions. At first, they were not rain tools. They were used to shade rulers and high-status people, and they also symbolized authority.

When did parasols appear in Japan?

In Japan, canopy-like objects called kinugasa are said to have appeared around the Asuka period. Early Japanese parasol-like objects were used in court ceremonies and Buddhist rituals, not as everyday personal accessories.

Is it new for men to use parasols in Japan?

No. Men using parasols is not completely new. In the Edo period, doctors, monks, and some townspeople used parasols. Today’s men using parasols can be seen as a modern reevaluation of the parasol’s practical role.

Do parasols really help against heat?

Parasols do not lower the air temperature around you, but they reduce direct sunlight and radiant heat reaching your body. That can make you feel cooler and reduce the burden of walking in strong sun.

Is a parasol better than a hat?

It depends on the situation. A hat keeps both hands free and protects the head. A parasol can shade a wider area, including the face, neck, shoulders, and arms. For commuting or walking, a parasol can be useful. For cycling or work that requires both hands, a hat may be more practical.

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