"I Almost Got Poked by an Umbrella Tip"... Complaints Surge Over 'Horizontal Umbrellas' in Japan [Sunday Culture]

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Issues Warning on How to Hold Umbrellas
"Risk of Injuring People Behind When Holding Umbrella Sideways"
Raising Awareness of Umbrella Etiquette During the Rainy Season

Perhaps because the rainy season has begun, it has been raining continuously these days. As a result, people are carrying long umbrellas much more frequently. Have you ever been hit by or nearly poked by someone else's umbrella on subway stairs or in similar places? In Japan, where the rainy season lasts even longer than in Korea, the way people hold their umbrellas always becomes a topic of debate during this time of year. Let me share the story behind the umbrella etiquette debate that has become a seasonal issue.

An illustration urging caution when holding an umbrella horizontally. Irastora.

A short while ago, the Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Living and Culture issued a warning about "how to hold an umbrella." During the rainy season, people tend to use long umbrellas, which are larger than folding ones. The problem arises when people enter indoor spaces. Holding the umbrella horizontally at one's side, known as "horizontal holding," has become controversial. Because the tip of the umbrella sticks out behind the person, it is easy to cause inconvenience or even injury to others in crowded places.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Living and Culture even conducted a survey about this issue. In March, they surveyed 2,000 people in their 20s to 60s about umbrella safety. Respondents reported various incidents and experiences, such as "almost getting poked in the eye by the tip of the umbrella in front while on an escalator," "getting poked in the stomach by the tip of the umbrella in front while going up stairs," and "hitting someone behind me with my umbrella while climbing stairs." When asked about the locations where such incidents occurred, 71.1% answered subway stations. However, 87.3% said that even after bumping into someone, they simply passed by without warning or saying anything.

Precautionary material for umbrellas distributed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Living and Culture. Tokyo Metropolitan Government.

In addition, 34.0% of respondents said they had held their umbrella horizontally or at an angle at some point. However, the Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Living and Culture claims that people who hold their umbrellas horizontally are more than three times as likely to cause harm to others compared to those who hold the handle vertically. In particular, when an umbrella is held horizontally, the tip is at the face level of children or wheelchair users walking by. If the umbrella tip were to poke someone in the eye, it could result in a serious injury, prompting even ophthalmologists to write articles explaining proper umbrella etiquette.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Living and Culture also conducted an experiment regarding how to hold umbrellas. To measure the impact of holding an umbrella horizontally, they fixed an umbrella to a pendulum and struck an object at a 45-degree angle, simulating the swinging motion of an arm while walking. The results showed that the impact could reach up to 240 kilograms, equivalent to the weight of a piano. Considering that this force is concentrated at the tip of the umbrella, it is clear how dangerous it can be.

Some may wonder why there is so much fuss over a single umbrella during the rainy season, but on Japanese X (formerly Twitter), there are even accounts dedicated to disliking people who hold umbrellas sideways, showing just how much attention this issue receives. The best way to hold an umbrella is to grip the handle so that the tip points toward the ground. Let's practice good umbrella etiquette and make our subway commutes safer during the rainy season.