Bat Umbrella (Bat Umbrella) - Bat Umbrella

Japanese: こうもり傘(蝙蝠傘) - こうもりがさ

An umbrella with metal ribs covered in cloth. It was given this name in the early Meiji period because its open shape resembles the flight of a bat. To distinguish it from the traditional umbrellas that had paper covered bamboo ribs, it was also called a Western umbrella or Western umbrella. It is said to have first been introduced to Japan in 1859 (Ansei 6) by a British merchant, and by the Keio period (1865-68) foreign merchants began selling them, and some samurai began using them. However, they were hated by anti-foreigners advocates, and there is a story in Fukuo Jiden that some people lost their lives using them.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

金属の骨に布を張った傘。開いた形がコウモリの飛ぶ姿に似ているので，明治初年にこの名がついた。竹の骨に紙を張った従来のものと区別するため，西洋傘，洋傘とも呼ばれた。日本にはじめて伝えられたのは1859年(安政6)で，イギリスの商人が持ちこんだといわれ，慶応(1865‐68)のころには外国商人が売り出すようになり，武士の間に使う者があらわれた。しかし，攘夷論者には目のかたきにされ，生命を落とした人もあるという話が《福翁自伝》に出ている。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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