Indigo Umbrella

Mima Japanese umbrellas (wagasa) are to this day produced in Mima City, and in 1955, there were more than 200 wagasa stores in the area. The delicate handiwork of wagasa craftsmen is deeply involved and there are more than 100 steps to crafting an umbrella, so the finished product is truly a work of art. Each lampshade is crafted with Awa Washi paper, and hand-dyed using a traditional and natural lye fermentation process. No chemical dyes are used; only Tokushima’s specialty, pure Awa Indigo. The pristine workmanship shows through when the lamps are lit; the indigo paper catches the light and emits a soft glow, reflecting handcrafted patterns and granting each lampshade its own personality.