Time of prosperity, Yodoe umbrella, ©Tottori Prefecture

A wide stretch of sandy embankment along the Hinogawa river in Yodoe provided an optimal area that allowed some 100,000 umbrellas to be dried at any one time. This fact along with the ample local supply of quality bamboo, provided a location primed for a burgeoning umbrella industry. Among the different types of Yodoe umbrellas are the popular tonyakasa and bangasa types. These umbrellas were prized for their ease of use and durable construction, which resulted in their high demand during the period just following the end of World War II. A time when the demand for umbrellas exceeded some 500,000 units annually.