Mode of Observation: Sight
Description: Umbrellas everywhere! Japan is a pretty rainy place, and umbrellas are extremely common. Though you’ll see just about every conceivable type of umbrella around, the most common are the basic plastic ones that you buy at the convenience store. They’re not terrible for what they cost, but they tend to get pretty thrashed in any sort of strong wind. During typhoon season especially, trash receptacles at train stations overflow with broken umbrellas, abandoned by commuters for whom a broken umbrella can do little good.
At various businesses and throughout public infrastructure, lost and forgotten umbrellas can overwhelm lost-and-found repositories, with millions of umbrellas showing up annually. Check behind most convenience stores or by the loading dock at a station, and you’re likely to see massive piles of unclaimed umbrellas.
art childcare children commerce communications education face garbage graffiti infrastructure locker lost and found personal items preschool rain services storage telephone transportation umbrella uncommon vehicle vending writing
