Gloves and parasols are de rigeur in sun-loathing Japan
The UV-blocking fashion accessories worn by local nationals are, admittedly, a bit pjzzling to sun-worshiping Americans. On brilliantly sunny days, when many of us Westerners shed layers in hopes of bronzing up that pasty winter skin, our neighbors cloak themselves from head to toe, armed with an arsenal of sun-busting accessories: facecovering visors, large brimmed hats (some bonneted, a la Laura Ingalls Wilder), long gloves, and even ruffled parasols. For many Okinawans— who share the national preference for pale, bihaku (literally, “beautifully white”) complexions—sunscreens are hardly adequate protection from the skin-damaging Ryukyu rays.
This sun-blocking accessories trend has been going strong for well over five years, and shows no signs of letting up; according to The Japan Times, the market is estimated at 35 billion yen annually, and has expanded 10 percent annually for the past five years. Parasols and umbrellas treated with anti-UV coating (which purportedly filters out 90 percent of the sun’s damaging rays) are consistently top-sellers, as are one of the more peculiar anti-UV garments, the “ray sleeve." Like a long, fingerless glove, ray sleeves cover bare arms from above the elbow to the knuckles, while still leaving fingers free. Many are chemically treated with SPF and are available in an assortment of colors and styles.
With summer right around the corner, UV-busting accessories are available right now in most stores, and for every budget, from Y300 for floral ray sleeves at Daiso, to Y10,000 for name-brand parasols at Mitsukoski. But for many women, price points don’t matter: “In Japan,” says one Tokyo shopper “appearance is everything."
This sun-blocking accessories trend has been going strong for well over five years, and shows no signs of letting up; according to The Japan Times, the market is estimated at 35 billion yen annually, and has expanded 10 percent annually for the past five years. Parasols and umbrellas treated with anti-UV coating (which purportedly filters out 90 percent of the sun’s damaging rays) are consistently top-sellers, as are one of the more peculiar anti-UV garments, the “ray sleeve." Like a long, fingerless glove, ray sleeves cover bare arms from above the elbow to the knuckles, while still leaving fingers free. Many are chemically treated with SPF and are available in an assortment of colors and styles.
With summer right around the corner, UV-busting accessories are available right now in most stores, and for every budget, from Y300 for floral ray sleeves at Daiso, to Y10,000 for name-brand parasols at Mitsukoski. But for many women, price points don’t matter: “In Japan,” says one Tokyo shopper “appearance is everything."
-Carrie Carmichael
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