和傘 Wagasa Kampai

As a lover oF traditions, hand crafts, and of course paper, I have been in love with Wagasa since my first trip to the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles years ago.

Wagasa or Traditional Japanese Umbrellas have been made by hand for over 1000 years using the beautiful and delicate washi paper.

Asian aesthetic has a way of presenting the most simple object or form and taking the function to artistic beauty.

Solicehome has this vintage lovely item that is so summer fresh.  I imagine it being center stage at a nice Japanese themed luncheon with cold sake, sashimi, and seaweed salad with black sesame seeds.

With the umbrella suspended in mid-air above the buffet, I'd dress the serving table with a bamboo runner to represent the fact that the ribs of these lovely umbrellas are made from a single bamboo cane split lengthwise. 

It's such an intricate technique that with the slightest imperfect the umbrella will not open.  

Although the umbrella was invented in China and introduced to Japan by way of Kudara (Korean peninsula) as part of Buddhist ceremonies, the Japanese have interwoven it into the cultural aspects of life.

Kampai to this tradition of the Orient. I relish it's beauty and the next time I see those little cutesy one on my fruity drinks I will think fondly of the larger versions it which it stems, the meaning behind the object, and the representation of paper.

Kampai!