coarse oilpaper umbrella
A traditional Japanese umbrella made of oiled paper, often associated with commoners in the Edo period. Now mostly seen in historical contexts or traditional settings.
In period dramas, scenes of townspeople holding coarse oilpaper umbrellas often appear.
Compound of 番 (ban, 'watch' or 'number') and 傘 (kasa, 'umbrella'). The exact origin of 番 is uncertain; it may refer to a type or grade of umbrella, or possibly derive from a historical term for commoners' items.