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It has been claimed that the traditional Japanese umbrella, made of slender bamboo and rice paper and easily breakable, could, when held by a man, symbolize the small size or weakness of his organ. However, there is not a single instance in our collection of a man holding an umbrella who appears particularly feeble.
![](https://shungagallery.com/wp/../wp-content/upload_folders/shungagallery.com/Kunimori-Shunka-Otogi-Bunko-1.jpg)
Fig.1. ‘Young couple under an umbrella in the rain‘ (c.1843) from the series ‘Haru no neya otogi-bunko‘ by Koikawa Shozan
Masturbating
While some men who are shown spying on others and masturbating do hold an umbrella (Fig.2.), a possible indication of weakness, there are equally other men who are masturbating, but without umbrellas.
![sex umbrella](https://shungagallery.com/wp/../wp-content/upload_folders/shungagallery.com/0000000-27.jpg)
Fig.2. ‘Masturbating man underneath an umbrella‘ (c.1825) from the series ‘Hyakki yagyo (Night Procession of One Hundred Demons)‘ by Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1865)
Click the following links for more shunga designs by Kunisada and Shozan!
Source: ‘Japanese Erotic Art: The Hidden World of Shunga‘ by Ofer Shagan