Japanese umbrellas have been produced since the Kyowa era (1801-1803). What began as a side job for samurai during the feudal era became a full-time job after the Meiji Restoration, and by approximately 1920, it had become a major industry in Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture, where some 250,000 umbrellas were produced annually. Today, only one company is still making these umbrellas, but they continue to be popular as decorative items, such as mini umbrellas and wall-hanging umbrellas.