月夜観堂
TSUKUYOMIDO

Our Story

Nakamuraya Kasa Ten (Nakamuraya Umbrella Store) specializes in Japanese umbrellas in Gifu Prefecture.

The business started as a retail store with the aim of introducing Japanese umbrellas to a wider audience.

The demand for Japanese umbrellas has decreased since the late Showa era (1980s) due to both changes in needs and a shortage of craftsmen. This resulted in a decline in production. It has also become more difficult to procures umbrellas compared to before, so Nakamuraya Kasa Ten opened the Workshop Tsukuyomi Kanon Dou to preserve and pass on the tradition of Japanese umbrellas to the next generation.

Japanese umbrellas may have an image of being traditional and old, but they have constantly evolved over time, incorporating new techniques and sensibilities. At Workshop Tsukuyomi Kanon Dou, we offer hands-on craft workshops for the general public to learn about the making of Japanese umbrellas and also a “Wagasa Juku”, a school where you can learn the techniques of Japanese umbrella making following traditional methods.

The production of Japanese umbrellas was introduced to Gifu Prefecture over 380 years ago.

It begain when Lord Matsudaira Tanba no Kami Mitsushige of the Kanoya Domain brought umbrella craftsmen from the Akashi Domain.

There are several reasons why Japanese umbrella making flourished in Gifu.

First, it was encouraged as a policy by the Kanoya Domain. Another reason is because in the Edo era (1603-1868), the Nagara River, and from the Showa era(1926-1989) onwards, railways were used as means of transportation. There were also abundant supplies of high-quality materials essential for umbrella production such as bamboo, Japanese paper (Mino Washi), bracken for glue, and persimmon tannin.

In March 2022, Gifu Wagasa was designated a traditional craft product by the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry.