You Can Stand Under My Umbrella

It has been a rainy day here in Japan. But, I was able to learn an interesting custom regarding umbrellas. In Japan, when it rains, you leave your umbrella outside of the business/restaurant. You leave it in a bin like this one.

However, it is not guaranteed that you will get that exact umbrella back. But there will always be an umbrella left for you to take. I call it the "Leave an umbrella...take an umbrella" system. Umbrellas are cheap in Japan, so you don't get attached to a specific one. They all belong to everyone. As long as you put an umbrella into the bin, you can take anyone out when you leave.

 

Chat Soon

Jocasta