Questions
What is a wagasa?
A wagasa is the traditional Japanese umbrella: a radial canopy over many fine ribs, made for centuries in bamboo and oiled paper. SHŌBI keeps the form and changes the material — the same silhouette, built in aerospace carbon fibre.
Is it for sun or for rain?
Both. The canopy is water-repellent and rated UPF 50+. It is one object for either sky, which is the point of it.
What is it made of?
- Twenty-four ribs and the shaft in aerospace-grade carbon fibre
- A technical woven canopy, water-repellent, rated UPF 50+
- 340 grams in total
- 94 cm across when open, 86 cm long when closed
What does UPF 50+ mean?
UPF 50+ is the highest rating a fabric can hold: it means the canopy blocks at least 98% of ultraviolet radiation. The protection is woven into the fabric rather than applied as a coating, so it does not wear off with use.
Is it waterproof?
It is water-repellent. Rain beads on the canopy and runs off, and the fabric dries in minutes rather than hours. Like any umbrella, it sheds rain rather than sealing you from it.
Will it survive wind?
Carbon fibre flexes where steel bends — the frame springs back rather than deforming. That said, no umbrella is indestructible, and we make no claim that this one cannot be damaged in a storm.
How many are there?
Two hundred pieces in the first edition: 150 Sakura and 50 Kuro. When they are gone, the edition closes. There will be no second run of the same pieces.
What does "individually numbered" mean?
Each piece carries its own number, engraved into the shaft, and arrives with a certificate of authenticity. No two are identical.
Can I choose my number?
You can ask. Numbers are assigned at random, but there is a field at checkout where you can list the ones you would like — several, if you want. We give you the first of them still free. If none are available, you get the closest number we have. We confirm it before your piece is dispatched.
What is the difference between Sakura and Kuro?
The object is the same. Sakura carries red Japanese flowers across a black canopy, in an edition of 150. Kuro is black on black with no pattern, in an edition of 50. Both are €220.
When can I buy one?
The first edition opens on 15 October 2026, and pieces are dispatched from that day. Allow one to two working days for us to number and check your piece before it leaves.
How much is delivery, and where do you ship?
Delivery is included — there is no shipping charge at checkout. We ship to Spain, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Norway; times are on the Shipping page. For anywhere further, write to info@shobi.co before ordering and we will quote the carriage.
Can I change my mind?
Yes — fourteen days from delivery, no reason needed. See Returns.
How do I look after it?
Open it to dry; never fold it away wet. Leave it standing open indoors, away from direct heat, until the fabric is dry to the touch. Clean with cold water and a soft cloth — no detergent, no solvent, no machine, as harsh cleaning strips the water-repellent finish. Store it closed, in its sleeve, out of direct sun.
What if it breaks?
Spanish law gives you a three-year guarantee of conformity from delivery. Beyond that, write to us anyway: we would rather repair a piece than see it thrown away.
Ask us
Write to info@shobi.co. A person reads it.