Students at the Kyoto Institute of Technology have developed multi-colored caps to put on the tips of your umbrella’s ribs (I had to look that last word up on Wikipedia!).

The CHIP-CAPs come in two sizes and a whole range of colors so you can easily individualize your own umbrella.

It is not only practical, but also a fun fashion item that allows you to add some color and character to these otherwise appallingly boring umbrellas. Tack on some Hello Kitty or other character stickers and you have an umbrella that nobody else has. All at a price that no-one can beat! These umbrellas are dirt cheap.

This is also great for people who are dismissively categorized in Japan as 「ビニール傘ヘビーユーザー」Heavy Plastic Umbrella Users, people who repeatedly buy such an umbrella, forget it and end up buying a new one, over and over again.

The CHIP-CAPs are for sale at the university’s co-op store. A set of 8 comes to a mere 100 yen (about 1 US dollar).

Unfortunately, no online sales, you have to go to Kyoto…