By Emily Connor
I never thought I would ever have a chance or even a reason to make this statement, but here I go.
I despise parasols.
Do people outside of Japan even know what parasols are? Because I think in every country except for Japan they've been out of style for say... Since the 18th century, somewhere in England. Parasols are umbrellas that people use in order to keep the sun off of their bodies. I guess they're similar to the huge umbrellas that people stick in the sand at the beach to stop from frying under the suns death-rays, which is perfectly understandable... However in Japan many Lolita-type young women, and Ginza-style old women feel it's necessary to have absolutely no exposure to the sun so that their skin stays pale and they can appear to never have any reason to go outside. I think back in the old days parasols were used by upper-class Socialites. Now they're used mainly by women who want to appear to be upper-class Socialites, although everyone knows that real upper-class Socialites just drive everywhere in their Mercedes-Benz and thus have no need to walk outside or carry a parasol.
I usually don't care much about what other people do. However I'm sick and tired of tiny women running around extremely crowded areas (for example, Shibuya crossing) with their parasols at the exact same height as my eyes. I've almost been stabbed in the eye by the sides of parasols on so many occasions I can't even begin to count. You could argue by saying 'Well, don't you have the same problem when it rains with normal umbrellas, then?' and the answer is no. When it's raining I expect everyone to have an umbrella and thus my mental guard is up-- but when it's a beautiful sunny day outside my mind isn't usually in umbrella/parasol defense mode. Someone will suddenly sneak up behind me with a parasol and clip the side of my face with the stupid thing. I've slowly adapted to raising my hand to shield the side of my face whenever a parasol comes into my peripheral vision, though-- but that skill took time and patience to develop.
What I want to know is what ever happened to sunscreen? I mean, my skin is so pale that I look like I could spontaneously combust with any exposure to the sun, and yet I refuse to use something as ridiculous as a parasol. Instead I just slap on some SPF50 lotion on my face and arms and am ready to go out and face the sun. When did women of this day and age decide that it would be a good idea to bring back the good old parasol? Isn't it tedious enough carrying along an umbrella and trying not to forget it somewhere on rainy days? Why inconvenience oneself so much on sunny days?
Maybe you won't be able so understand exactly why parasols bug me so much unless you come to Japan and experience it for yourself. They're just absolutely absurd. A lot of Japanese women wear black UV-resistant sleeves in the Summer, which I still find to be a bit much but at least gloves aren't putting my eyes or face in any danger of being cut by the metal prongs of parasols. Oh Japan. I love you and yet you confuse me so much.
I never thought I would ever have a chance or even a reason to make this statement, but here I go.
I despise parasols.
Do people outside of Japan even know what parasols are? Because I think in every country except for Japan they've been out of style for say... Since the 18th century, somewhere in England. Parasols are umbrellas that people use in order to keep the sun off of their bodies. I guess they're similar to the huge umbrellas that people stick in the sand at the beach to stop from frying under the suns death-rays, which is perfectly understandable... However in Japan many Lolita-type young women, and Ginza-style old women feel it's necessary to have absolutely no exposure to the sun so that their skin stays pale and they can appear to never have any reason to go outside. I think back in the old days parasols were used by upper-class Socialites. Now they're used mainly by women who want to appear to be upper-class Socialites, although everyone knows that real upper-class Socialites just drive everywhere in their Mercedes-Benz and thus have no need to walk outside or carry a parasol.
I usually don't care much about what other people do. However I'm sick and tired of tiny women running around extremely crowded areas (for example, Shibuya crossing) with their parasols at the exact same height as my eyes. I've almost been stabbed in the eye by the sides of parasols on so many occasions I can't even begin to count. You could argue by saying 'Well, don't you have the same problem when it rains with normal umbrellas, then?' and the answer is no. When it's raining I expect everyone to have an umbrella and thus my mental guard is up-- but when it's a beautiful sunny day outside my mind isn't usually in umbrella/parasol defense mode. Someone will suddenly sneak up behind me with a parasol and clip the side of my face with the stupid thing. I've slowly adapted to raising my hand to shield the side of my face whenever a parasol comes into my peripheral vision, though-- but that skill took time and patience to develop.
What I want to know is what ever happened to sunscreen? I mean, my skin is so pale that I look like I could spontaneously combust with any exposure to the sun, and yet I refuse to use something as ridiculous as a parasol. Instead I just slap on some SPF50 lotion on my face and arms and am ready to go out and face the sun. When did women of this day and age decide that it would be a good idea to bring back the good old parasol? Isn't it tedious enough carrying along an umbrella and trying not to forget it somewhere on rainy days? Why inconvenience oneself so much on sunny days?
Maybe you won't be able so understand exactly why parasols bug me so much unless you come to Japan and experience it for yourself. They're just absolutely absurd. A lot of Japanese women wear black UV-resistant sleeves in the Summer, which I still find to be a bit much but at least gloves aren't putting my eyes or face in any danger of being cut by the metal prongs of parasols. Oh Japan. I love you and yet you confuse me so much.
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