A quick glance to see if commuters are clutching umbrellas or not is almost always a good indicator of the day’s weather. And the more people in possession of one, means a higher percentage of rain. A technique that, without a doubt, is far more accurate than any forecast.
But even when there’s apparently no chance of precipitation, and absolutely nobody appears to have a brolly, the moment there’s a quick downpour, almost everyone suddenly does. A sort of mass magic trick, when umbrellas, and not just folding ones, appear to be pulled out of thin air.
However, for those not in the know, or whose conjuring tricks are on the wane, the consternation of being caught out is often all too clear.
NihonBurp says
Yes that always caught me out as well, I didn’t see anyone carrying a brolly so I thought that they must’ve watched the forecast, then it starts raining and as if by magic out comes all their umbrellas, leaving me to get soaked. Also being relatively tall means that a walk through crowded streets full of pointy umbrellas can be very dangerous when they are all at eye level.
Lee says
Yeah, I’ve never been in on it either, and I suspect I never will!
Totally agree. People with umbrellas can be a real menace. It’s almost like you need one to defend yourself from others who also have one. Which invariably is everyone.
BiggerInJapan says
every pure-bred Japanese has this umbrella-magic gene in his DNA. I do not.
Lee says
No, and we never will…
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