Parasols — accessories normally associated with women trying to protect their skin from the sun — are proving increasingly popular with men as the nation grapples with one of its hottest summers ever.
Parasols have been attracting attention in recent years, but this summer sales of models targeted at men have grown rapidly amid the scorching heat, store officials say.
At the men's branch of Isetan's flagship department store in Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo, parasol sales have more than doubled in June and July compared with a year earlier, with foldable, all-weather types especially popular. According to the store, many of the female customers said they are being asked to buy parasols by their husbands.