Picture of Light Rain on the Embankment of the Sumida River, from the series A New Selection of Famous Places in Edo c. late 1830s - early 1840s

This woodblock print by Utagawa Hiroshige captures a scene of light rain on the Sumida River Embankment. Notice the downpour obscuring the landscape, yet the figures persist, their forms softened by the rain’s embrace. The umbrella, or "kasa", acts as a shield but also as a unifier across cultures. From ancient Egypt where parasols signified status, to its religious employment protecting sacred figures, umbrellas have been a ubiquitous symbol. Recall the Baroque paintings where saints are shaded by angels bearing umbrellas: they share with Hiroshige’s figures a primal need for protection and dignity. The rain here is not merely atmospheric; it's a force that shapes the interactions between people, architecture, and nature, evoking a psychological response within us, tapping into our collective memories. As the rain falls, so do the boundaries between our present and the echoes of history.