Evolution of a Hit Product That Sold 1,500 Units Last Year! A Local Spring Factory Takes on the Challenge: An Innovative Spring-Powered [Fan x Parasol] 'Ponto Shade' That Pops Open and Cools Even in Crowds, Pre-Sales Start on Makuake
CurioSpring, a spring manufacturer, is launching 'Ponto Shade'—an upgraded, compact sunshade fan using Toray's Summer Shield and spring technology—on Makuake. It offers a practical alternative for men hesitant to use parasols and is ideal for crowded areas.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 24, 2026 at 19:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 24, 2026 at 10:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 25, 2026 at 03:36 (17h 4m after Collected)
■ The highly anticipated model change of the buzzworthy product that gathered over 5 million yen in support in its previous iteration
CurioSpring Co., Ltd. (Kofu City, Yamanashi Prefecture, CEO: Wataru Omori) has updated its sunshade fan "Pop Shade," which garnered over 5 million yen in support and sold out 1,500 units on Makuake in 2025. Under the new brand "Ponto Shade," pre-sales will begin on Makuake from 10:00 AM on Friday, April 24, 2026.
Click here for Makuake
Available in 6 approachable colors
Can be used smartly and casually, as an extension of a traditional fan
Pops open with the power of a spring. The hardened material makes a difference in flexibility
Highly active in outdoor scenes. The back side also absorbs reflected light
Convenient for measures against the afternoon sun inside cars. Surprisingly compact when folded
Outstanding light-shielding performance
■ Why a "fan" instead of a "parasol"? (From survey results)
In recent years, while the term "parasol men" (Higasa Danshi) has spread as a countermeasure against heatstroke, there still seems to be a hurdle for men to use parasols.
Survey results: While about half of men answered that they "feel no discomfort with others using parasols," the reasons they don't use them themselves were "cumbersome to carry" (36%) and "embarrassing to hold up" (11%).
Ponto Shade as a solution: A new concept of "holding up a high-performance fan" instead of "holding up a parasol." By being able to use it casually as an extension of a fan, we lowered the psychological and physical hurdles for men.
■ Features
1. Adopts Toray's "Summer Shield"
Adopts the domestically produced fabric "Summer Shield" by Toray. With a special three-layer structure, it firmly blocks infrared, ultraviolet, and visible light from sunlight! It is a fabric that combines high light shielding of 99.9% (JIS L 1055A method), UV cut rate of 99%, heat shielding of -4°C or more (ref-lamp method), and water pressure resistance of 20,000mm.
* Summer Shield is a registered trademark of Toray Industries, Inc. * Measurement results of head surface temperature (Examples of measurements under direct sunlight. Results may vary depending on the environment.)
2. Thinner by cutting thickness by 55%
By upgrading the handle from wood to resin, we achieved a weight of "70g"—lighter than a rice ball—and a thickness of "3cm" convenient for carrying.
3. The "spring" boosts the fanning power, creating a new sensation of airflow
Adopts high-quality domestic hardened ribbon steel. By storing the movement of the wrist as elastic energy and increasing the speed at the moment of fanning, it generates a strong breeze with very little effort.
4. Active even in parasol-banned areas and during crowded times
Even in areas where "parasols are banned" to ensure visibility, such as sports viewing, festivals, and theme parks, the compact Ponto Shade can be used. Even on a hugely crowded street like Harajuku, you can secure your own shade without getting in the way of those around you.
The massive crowds at the 2025 Osaka Expo. Easy to use even in crowds.
■ Product Specifications
Clean design
■ Inspiration for Development
The catalyst was the representative's own experience of wrapping a towel over his head in the extreme 40-degree heat. Keenly realizing the "importance of blocking the sun from just the head and neck," this product was developed utilizing the family business's spring manufacturing technology. Pursuing the possibilities of springs, we fused the good old traditional "fan" design with the "latest materials."
■ Thoughts Put into the Name Change
This time, we completely renewed the name from the previous "Pop Shade" and are restarting as "Ponto Shade." Although we were forced to change the name due to trademark rights issues, we viewed this as a "chance to stand on our own as a true brand." We expressed more straightforwardly the value our product provides: "Easily pop it open to create Shade."
■ Makuake Project Overview
Period: 10:00 AM, Friday, April 24, 2026 - 10:00 PM, Friday, July 17, 2026
Example Return: [Super Early Bird] Early June Delivery, First 50 units: 3,750 yen (tax and shipping included), etc.
URL: https://www.makuake.com/project/pontoshade/
■ Company Profile
CurioSpring Co., Ltd.
Head Office: Kofu City, Yamanashi Prefecture
President and CEO: Wataru Omori
Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.jp/curiospring
A manufacturer established in 2019 from a local spring factory. The company name reflects our belief in cherishing curiosity. We believe that curiosity is born from emotion and becomes the driving force for everything. We successfully cut intermediate costs by handling everything from planning to manufacturing internally. We will challenge the resolution of issues and deliver unique and useful products.
CurioSpring Co., Ltd. (Kofu City, Yamanashi Prefecture, CEO: Wataru Omori) has updated its sunshade fan "Pop Shade," which garnered over 5 million yen in support and sold out 1,500 units on Makuake in 2025. Under the new brand "Ponto Shade," pre-sales will begin on Makuake from 10:00 AM on Friday, April 24, 2026.
Click here for Makuake
Available in 6 approachable colors
Can be used smartly and casually, as an extension of a traditional fan
Pops open with the power of a spring. The hardened material makes a difference in flexibility
Highly active in outdoor scenes. The back side also absorbs reflected light
Convenient for measures against the afternoon sun inside cars. Surprisingly compact when folded
Outstanding light-shielding performance
■ Why a "fan" instead of a "parasol"? (From survey results)
In recent years, while the term "parasol men" (Higasa Danshi) has spread as a countermeasure against heatstroke, there still seems to be a hurdle for men to use parasols.
Survey results: While about half of men answered that they "feel no discomfort with others using parasols," the reasons they don't use them themselves were "cumbersome to carry" (36%) and "embarrassing to hold up" (11%).
Ponto Shade as a solution: A new concept of "holding up a high-performance fan" instead of "holding up a parasol." By being able to use it casually as an extension of a fan, we lowered the psychological and physical hurdles for men.
■ Features
1. Adopts Toray's "Summer Shield"
Adopts the domestically produced fabric "Summer Shield" by Toray. With a special three-layer structure, it firmly blocks infrared, ultraviolet, and visible light from sunlight! It is a fabric that combines high light shielding of 99.9% (JIS L 1055A method), UV cut rate of 99%, heat shielding of -4°C or more (ref-lamp method), and water pressure resistance of 20,000mm.
* Summer Shield is a registered trademark of Toray Industries, Inc. * Measurement results of head surface temperature (Examples of measurements under direct sunlight. Results may vary depending on the environment.)
2. Thinner by cutting thickness by 55%
By upgrading the handle from wood to resin, we achieved a weight of "70g"—lighter than a rice ball—and a thickness of "3cm" convenient for carrying.
3. The "spring" boosts the fanning power, creating a new sensation of airflow
Adopts high-quality domestic hardened ribbon steel. By storing the movement of the wrist as elastic energy and increasing the speed at the moment of fanning, it generates a strong breeze with very little effort.
4. Active even in parasol-banned areas and during crowded times
Even in areas where "parasols are banned" to ensure visibility, such as sports viewing, festivals, and theme parks, the compact Ponto Shade can be used. Even on a hugely crowded street like Harajuku, you can secure your own shade without getting in the way of those around you.
The massive crowds at the 2025 Osaka Expo. Easy to use even in crowds.
■ Product Specifications
Clean design
■ Inspiration for Development
The catalyst was the representative's own experience of wrapping a towel over his head in the extreme 40-degree heat. Keenly realizing the "importance of blocking the sun from just the head and neck," this product was developed utilizing the family business's spring manufacturing technology. Pursuing the possibilities of springs, we fused the good old traditional "fan" design with the "latest materials."
■ Thoughts Put into the Name Change
This time, we completely renewed the name from the previous "Pop Shade" and are restarting as "Ponto Shade." Although we were forced to change the name due to trademark rights issues, we viewed this as a "chance to stand on our own as a true brand." We expressed more straightforwardly the value our product provides: "Easily pop it open to create Shade."
■ Makuake Project Overview
Period: 10:00 AM, Friday, April 24, 2026 - 10:00 PM, Friday, July 17, 2026
Example Return: [Super Early Bird] Early June Delivery, First 50 units: 3,750 yen (tax and shipping included), etc.
URL: https://www.makuake.com/project/pontoshade/
■ Company Profile
CurioSpring Co., Ltd.
Head Office: Kofu City, Yamanashi Prefecture
President and CEO: Wataru Omori
Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.jp/curiospring
A manufacturer established in 2019 from a local spring factory. The company name reflects our belief in cherishing curiosity. We believe that curiosity is born from emotion and becomes the driving force for everything. We successfully cut intermediate costs by handling everything from planning to manufacturing internally. We will challenge the resolution of issues and deliver unique and useful products.