- Gifu Umbrellas
, or Gifu Japanese Umbrellas, are a special product of the city of Gifu in
Gifu Prefecture ,Japan . They have been labeled as one of Gifu's traditional crafts.History
In 1639, the
Matsudaira clan became rulers of theKanō Domain and brought with them umbrella artisans from their former home in theAkashi Domain (modern-dayHyōgo Prefecture ). By 1756, the umbrellas became more fully developed and the modern shapes and designs first appeared.During the end of the
Edo period , approximately 520,000 umbrellas were shipped north toEdo each year. By the beginning of theMeiji period , production increased to 12 million umbrellas each year and international sales first began on a widescale. Production continued to increase until its peak during theShōwa period , which 15 million umbrellas being produced each year, but modern production has dropped to just tens of thousands of umbrellas.Features
Gifu Umbrellas are made using
Mino washi , a strong local paper. A number of natural materials are used in the production process and there are a limited number of people who have the skills to make the umbrellas.Among traditional crafts in Japan, Gifu Umbrellas are particularly difficult to make with over 100 steps involved from start to finish. Because of all the skills required to make the umbrellas, it would be difficult for one person to make an umbrella through each step. [http://www.pref.gifu.lg.jp/pref/s11355/takumi/d_kogei/d_04_wagasa/wagasa.html Gifu Uchiwa no Page] . ja icon Gifu Prefecture. Accessed
May 1 ,2008 .]ee also
*
Mino washi
*Gifu Lanterns
*Gifu Fans
* [http://www.wagasa.co.jp/English/index.eng.htm Traditional Japanese Umbrellas] (Fujisawa Shoten Co., Ltd. homepage)References
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