4 ms·

What always stumped me is that there are virtually always lockers for umbrellas available (the exception being if they have appliances where you can wrap your u

What always stumped me is that there are virtually always lockers for umbrellas available (the exception being if they have appliances where you can wrap your umbrella into a plastic wrap before entering. That's mostly found in malls and department stores). Given that the standard plastic issue umbrella is sold in any konbini [7/11 et al]) for 500yen combined with Japanese honesty that always surprised me. Can anybody knowledgeable comment on this?

WnZ39p0Dgydaz1 7y ago
What do you mean by "lockers for umbrellas"? Are you talking about public spaces or restaurants? Maybe I just haven't seen them, but I'm really not sure what you are referring to. An umbrella may be 500 yen, but not getting wet when it's raining is priceless :) So, getting an umbrella stolen while you are in a store has a much higher cost than 500 yen.
- kalleboo 7y ago
  https://image.shutterstock.com/image-photo/japan-umbrella-locker-600w-368497328.jpg https://image.shutterstock.com/image-photo/japan-umbrella-lo... https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2457/3970512928_4cff616efd_b.jpg https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2457/3970512928_4cff616efd_b....
- mikekchar 7y ago
  It took me a while to figure it out too, but it's those little umbrella holders with locks on them that you can often see in the library or onsen. I've never once locked mine, but I live in the countryside :-) But I don't even lock my front door. I've had drunk neighbours come into my apartment in the middle of the night by accident. It's almost stereotypical. Sometimes I think living in the Japanese countryside is like living in a time machine... Edit: Funny story. When I first moved to Japan, I lost 33 umbrellas in 3 years. I couldn't figure out where they were going. Then at the morning meeting at work they said, "We have this huge pile of umbrellas in the back room. Can people please claim them?" They were all mine... Apparently in the morning after the staff arrive, they would put them in the back room so that it wasn't a nuisance to visitors. Since I live in Shizuoka where it barely rains, by the time I was ready to go home it was usually sunny and forgot about my umbrella. I never ever realised that it was just getting moved. Of course, by then I was indoctrinated enough in Japanese society that I was way too embarrassed to claim my umbrellas!
tidenly 7y ago
Umbrella lockers in Japan are always free. They're just a more secure version of the convenience store trypophobia buckets.
- CaptainZapp 7y ago
  Yes, I know that they're free. I was just wondering why such an ubiquitous thing like a usually very cheap umbrella needs to be locked away in the first place. In Japan from all places. Of course, and if it's only a standard bucket, there's a very good chance that you walk away with the wrong umbrella. But are people really that attached to their specific personal umbrella, which is exactly the same as yours, that this matters? To the other replier: They're very common in museums and comparable venues. Department stores usually have that appliance thing were your umbrella gets wrapped in a plastic baggie to avoid dripping. One wonders, alas, how sustainable that is.
  - BurningFrog 7y ago
    I don't think it's for locking away. It's so you don't have to carry around a wet umbrella in the store. And if you happen to get a different cheap umbrella when you leave than when you entered, it's not a big deal.
  - tidenly 7y ago
    The Japanese release all the energy saved up not committing other petty crimes by being notorious umbrella thieves. Tokyo is the umbrella crime theft capital of the world. The lockers prevent the "Oh I thought it was mine", excuse, and also places popular with foreigners, who more commonly have actual umbrellas instead of the cheap plastic ones, are more likely to have the lockers I've found.
    - carapace 7y ago
      > Tokyo is the umbrella crime theft capital of the world. I'd watch that anime.
laurieg 7y ago
Here is a video of said umbrella lockers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjTwPII-mxk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjTwPII-mxk With many people using the same cheap plastic umbrella it is very difficult to tell which one is yours. I have had quite a few umbrellas "taken by mistake". How much "taking by mistake" is a euphemism for "stealing", well, I'll let you be the judge. My hack: attach a small key to your umbrella handle. Many people will think twice about taking a key.
wst_ 7y ago
I don't think they are common in Tokyo. I've seen them few times, maybe. In most cases people just put their umrellas in an umbrella stands in front of the stores, restaurants or combini. Since most of them look similar, people get confused about which one is theirs. I've heard that nothing gets stolen in Japan, except for bikes and umbrellas. Not sure about bicycle - still got mine, but indeed I've got my unmbrella misplaced once or twice.

WnZ39p0Dgydaz1 7y ago

What do you mean by "lockers for umbrellas"? Are you talking about public spaces or restaurants? Maybe I just haven't seen them, but I'm really not sure what you are referring to. An umbrella may be 500 yen, but not getting wet when it's raining is priceless :) So, getting an umbrella stolen while you are in a store has a much higher cost than 500 yen.

kalleboo 7y ago
https://image.shutterstock.com/image-photo/japan-umbrella-locker-600w-368497328.jpg https://image.shutterstock.com/image-photo/japan-umbrella-lo... https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2457/3970512928_4cff616efd_b.jpg https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2457/3970512928_4cff616efd_b....
mikekchar 7y ago
It took me a while to figure it out too, but it's those little umbrella holders with locks on them that you can often see in the library or onsen. I've never once locked mine, but I live in the countryside :-) But I don't even lock my front door. I've had drunk neighbours come into my apartment in the middle of the night by accident. It's almost stereotypical. Sometimes I think living in the Japanese countryside is like living in a time machine... Edit: Funny story. When I first moved to Japan, I lost 33 umbrellas in 3 years. I couldn't figure out where they were going. Then at the morning meeting at work they said, "We have this huge pile of umbrellas in the back room. Can people please claim them?" They were all mine... Apparently in the morning after the staff arrive, they would put them in the back room so that it wasn't a nuisance to visitors. Since I live in Shizuoka where it barely rains, by the time I was ready to go home it was usually sunny and forgot about my umbrella. I never ever realised that it was just getting moved. Of course, by then I was indoctrinated enough in Japanese society that I was way too embarrassed to claim my umbrellas!

tidenly 7y ago

Umbrella lockers in Japan are always free. They're just a more secure version of the convenience store trypophobia buckets.

CaptainZapp 7y ago
Yes, I know that they're free. I was just wondering why such an ubiquitous thing like a usually very cheap umbrella needs to be locked away in the first place. In Japan from all places. Of course, and if it's only a standard bucket, there's a very good chance that you walk away with the wrong umbrella. But are people really that attached to their specific personal umbrella, which is exactly the same as yours, that this matters? To the other replier: They're very common in museums and comparable venues. Department stores usually have that appliance thing were your umbrella gets wrapped in a plastic baggie to avoid dripping. One wonders, alas, how sustainable that is.
- BurningFrog 7y ago
  I don't think it's for locking away. It's so you don't have to carry around a wet umbrella in the store. And if you happen to get a different cheap umbrella when you leave than when you entered, it's not a big deal.
- tidenly 7y ago
  The Japanese release all the energy saved up not committing other petty crimes by being notorious umbrella thieves. Tokyo is the umbrella crime theft capital of the world. The lockers prevent the "Oh I thought it was mine", excuse, and also places popular with foreigners, who more commonly have actual umbrellas instead of the cheap plastic ones, are more likely to have the lockers I've found.
  - carapace 7y ago
    > Tokyo is the umbrella crime theft capital of the world. I'd watch that anime.

laurieg 7y ago

Here is a video of said umbrella lockers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjTwPII-mxk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjTwPII-mxk With many people using the same cheap plastic umbrella it is very difficult to tell which one is yours. I have had quite a few umbrellas "taken by mistake". How much "taking by mistake" is a euphemism for "stealing", well, I'll let you be the judge. My hack: attach a small key to your umbrella handle. Many people will think twice about taking a key.

wst_ 7y ago

I don't think they are common in Tokyo. I've seen them few times, maybe. In most cases people just put their umrellas in an umbrella stands in front of the stores, restaurants or combini. Since most of them look similar, people get confused about which one is theirs. I've heard that nothing gets stolen in Japan, except for bikes and umbrellas. Not sure about bicycle - still got mine, but indeed I've got my unmbrella misplaced once or twice.