Hirofumi Kawaguchi shows a Silent Umbrella at Maruyasu Yougasa in Abeno Ward, Osaka. Pic: The Japan News
Osaka, Japan: An umbrella developed by a manufacturer in Osaka is gaining popularity among blind people or those who are highly sensitive to noise, as it muffles the sound of raindrops.
Maruyasu Yougasa, which has been producing handmade umbrellas, launched the "Silent Umbrella” in 2022. According to the company, the umbrella reduces the sound of being hit by raindrops by 30 to 35 percent compared to ordinary umbrellas.
The concept was born from a comment from a blind person nearly 20 years ago, who said, "I feel anxious walking around as the noise of rain hitting the umbrella drowns out the sounds of my surroundings.”
However, the company was too busy to develop a new type of umbrella. Ultimately, it fully committed to its development during the covid-19 pandemic as orders slumped. The Silent Umbrella uses a double-layer structure to reduce rain sounds. The upper layer is made of a waterproof mesh fabric, which breaks raindrops up into smaller drops, which the lower-layer fabric then repels.
The umbrella costs 19,800, yen and there is a 60-centimeter-long version and a 65-centimeter-long version. Foreign customers have also shown interest.
The company held a workshop on making umbrellas by hand at the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo to promote the product to overseas visitors.
"I’ll be glad if it sparks even a little interest in the craft of umbrella making for someone,” said Hirofumi Kawaguchi of the company.
