From its home in the Far East all the way across the globe to the Western World, Japanese animation has long been a favorite among people of all ages. Japanese artwork has been a part of eastern culture since the dawn of man, and not only do modern anime and manga have their roots in the deep history of Japanese art, these styles have also earned the respect and appreciation of today’s animation fans from around the world.

The earliest anime dates back to the 1917 release of the first ever Japanese style animated short, Namakura Gatana, or Fine Sword. In this brief anime (just over ninety seconds long), a foolish man attempts to defeat his enemy with a newly purchased samurai sword, only to realize the weapon is useless. When he seeks out the crooked merchant to return the dull sword, the samurai is defeated by the merchant as well. Anime history buffs can still find vintage clips of Namakura Gatanaonline today.

Manga as we know it is also steeped in a rich history. Manga has existed for more than half a century, originating during the US Occupation of Japan in the 1940s and 50s. Drawing from Meiji era aesthetic traditions as well as inspiration from American comic books that arrived in Japan with the US troops, Japanese artists in the 1940s began to rapidly produce artistic works akin to what we know as manga today. Covering a range of topics and genres for a variety of audiences, manga quickly became a popular form of entertainment worldwide.

Today, anime and manga are still hugely popular, particularly in the US. A well-known favorite Japanese manga series is one written and illustrated by Tite Kubo. Beginning in 2001, Bleach has detailed the adventures of Ichigo Kurosaki, a young man who is charged with the role of being the reaper of souls, protecting them from evil spirits, and escorting them into the afterlife.

Though it originated as a manga comic, Bleach transcends a variety of genres. As with many of the most popular Japanese animation series, Bleach has blossomed into a much larger entertainment franchise, including an animated series, soundtrack CDs, films, musicals, and even a video game.

If you are a Japanese animation fanatic, be it manga, anime, or otherwise, you have probably had the pleasure of enjoying the work of the talented Tite Kubo. You may even wish you could emulate the awesomeness of Ichigo Kurosaki on a daily basis! Unfortunately, it isn’t always the best idea to be wielding a tensa bankai sword casually in public.

For just that reason, Armory Replicas is featuring an umbrella in the style of Ichigo’s sword from Bleach. With our Ichigo Tensa Bankai umbrella, you can rock that manga style, whether rain or shine!