Japan Local Govt Encouraging Men to Use UV Parasols

August 13, 2018

Saitama- The prefectural government of Saitama, eastern Japan, is encouraging men to use ultraviolet ray parasols in a bid to curb the number of heatstroke sufferers.

Male workers of the Saitama government who formed a group to promote the campaign have tweeted voices from male UV parasol users, held an experience session for visitors at a Saitama government event, and use such parasols when commuting.

"There are budgetary limits to increase tree shade, but we can spread portable 'shade' much earlier," an official of the Saitama government said.

The idea of spreading UV parasols to men was proposed as a countermeasure for heat at a meeting of the Saitama government's environment department in summer 2017. The promotion group was then formed with some 20 male staff of the department.

The main activity for members of the group was to set an example by using UV parasols but the range has expanded to include an experience session and Twitter posts. The number of group members has increased to 100, thanks to the participation of officials from eight cities in the prefecture, including the city of Saitama and Tokorozawa.

A member of the group said that using a UV parasol helps him counter summer heat, while admitting that he had hesitated to use one before because he thought it was for use by women.

Last year he used a UV parasol supplied by the Saitama government, but he purchased one for himself this year.

Sales of UV parasols are rising at department stores.

According to an official at Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings Ltd.'s <3099> Men's Building at the Shinjuku store of the company, sales of UV parasols for men in June and July doubled from a year before.

Men in their 50s to 70s are the main purchasers and many customers come with their partners, the official said. Some customers say they use UV parasols with their wives on holiday, according to the official.

"Maybe there are still high hurdles for men to use UV parasols," said Tomomi Anzai, a Saitama government official. "But I want it to be natural for many people to use UV parasols as a countermeasure for heat." Jiji Press