11th August 2021
It isn’t just the sun that the sun umbrellas are designed to stop these days. You often see UV1 radiation – 紫外線 (shigaisen) mentioned in the advertising for many products, such as skin care products and visors and sun umbrellas. It often seems that stopping the UV rays is more important than stopping the sun itself.
Many sun umbrellas are black. The black colour is designed to absorb the UV rays. Sometimes the inside of the umbrella is also black to prevent the absorption of the sun and the UV rays reflected back off the ground.
Sun umbrellas in the past were made of washi paper and some were very colourful but now the material is part of the fight against the UV rays. Most umbrellas are made of polyester which is designed to stop the absorption of the rays. Many sun umbrellas are also rain umbrellas too. They are made to stop both sun and rain, so good if you’re out looking for a rainbow.
Masks are also part of the fight against the UV rays. Arm protectors, some for the whole arm and hand and sunglasses are also part of the team to fight the UV rays.
In the past men didn’t use sun umbrellas at all but now some men do. You might see men walking to and from their offices in the big cities with a sun umbrella over their head. Don’t think you’ll see farmers using them but you never know.
■ Do men use sun umbrellas?
■ Do you like getting the sun or don’t you like it so much?
■ Do you care about UV rays?
■ Would you use a sun umbrella?