Lost Umbrella Cloud 'find' Releases Data on Umbrella Losses on Umbrella Day June 11

Aiming for a world where lost items are always found, find Inc. (headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Akira Takashima), which operates 'Lost Umbrella Cloud find,' conducted research and analysis on the actual state of lost umbrellas in Japanese society to coincide with Umbrella Day on June 11.

Based on lost item data from railway and bus operators partnered with find, the estimated annual number of lost umbrellas nationwide could reach up to 3.28 million.

Furthermore, due to rising naphtha prices, logistics costs, and the weak yen, umbrella prices—especially plastic umbrellas—have been on the rise. Using the number of lost umbrellas and average purchase prices, find estimates that the economic loss from lost umbrellas could reach up to 6.6 billion yen annually.

Additionally, lost umbrellas not only cause financial losses for users but also impose storage and management burdens on public transport operators and environmental costs from waste disposal.

◆ Survey and Analysis Summary

Estimated annual lost umbrellas in Japan: 3.28 million (Note 1)

Estimated economic loss from lost umbrellas: approx. 5.3–6.6 billion yen annually (Note 2)

Environmental impact index of lost umbrellas: approx. 2,273 tons CO2 equivalent (Note 3)

Periods of increased umbrella loss: June and October (rainy season, typhoons, autumn rain) (Note 4)

Main locations: Public transport such as railways and buses (approx. 84% of total) (Note 5)

Main reasons: Distraction when disembarking, forgetting after rain, etc.

(Note 1) Calculated by applying large-scale actual data from 'Lost Umbrella Cloud find' as a sample to data from the 2025 Police White Paper Chapter 2 on securing public safety and crime investigation, and macro-estimating annual national losses.

(Note 2) Calculated by combining data from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications' Retail Price Statistics Survey (Trends), distribution market data, and find's category-specific found item records.

(Note 3) Calculated by combining data from the Ministry of the Environment's '3R Unit Publication Data,' Japan Umbrella Promotion Council (JUPA) market statistics, Forestry Agency's forest CO2 absorption calculation standards, Aikasa Inc.'s umbrella lifecycle CO2 emissions estimate, and find's estimated number of lost umbrellas.

(Note 4,5) Internal platform statistics from 'Lost Umbrella Cloud find' for January–December 2025.

◆ 3.28 Million Lost Umbrellas Nationwide Annually

Analysis of find's data reveals strong seasonality and location bias in umbrella recovery numbers. Monthly trends show twin peaks in June (36,177 cases) during the rainy season and October (36,790 cases) affected by autumn rain and typhoons. In contrast, low-rain months like January (6,465 cases) and February (6,201 cases) drop to about one-sixth of peak levels, showing that umbrella loss frequency is directly proportional to precipitation.

By location, railways (183,323 cases, approx. 67%) and buses (46,186 cases, approx. 17%) are dominant, with about 84% occurring on public transport.

◆ Rising Economic Impact of Lost Umbrellas

In recent years, the price of plastic umbrellas sold at convenience stores has risen, with products priced at 600–800 yen becoming common. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications' Retail Price Statistics Survey, the average price of standard long umbrellas has also risen to over 1,700 yen.

Background factors include rising naphtha prices, increased import costs due to the weak yen, higher logistics costs, and enhanced features like wind resistance. Even plastic umbrellas, once seen as cheap disposables, are becoming a significant expense for consumers.

Find data shows that long umbrellas (41.27%) and folding umbrellas (36.44%) account for about 78% of lost umbrellas. This means most lost umbrellas are not disposable plastic ones but rain umbrellas costing over 1,500 yen purchased for long-term use, which is a major factor behind the annual economic loss of up to 6.6 billion yen.

◆ Environmental Burden of Lost Umbrellas as a Social Issue

Find conducted its own estimate of the environmental impact of lost umbrellas. Many reported umbrellas are eventually disposed of after a certain storage period if the owner does not claim them.

<Environmental Impact Index of Lost Umbrellas>

Estimated number of lost umbrellas: 3.28 million

Lifetime CO2 emissions per umbrella: 692g

Total annual CO2 emissions from lost umbrellas: approx. 2,273 tons

This 2,273 tons of CO2 is equivalent to the annual absorption of about 258,000 cedar trees, or emissions from a gasoline car traveling about 17.487 million km (approx. 436 times around the Earth).

Umbrellas consist of multiple materials such as plastic, metal, and vinyl chloride strongly bonded together, making manual sorting and dismantling extremely difficult. As a result, the recycling rate is very low, and most are landfilled or incinerated, structurally increasing CO2 emissions.

◆ Message from Akira Takashima, CEO of find Inc.

We are not just building an efficient lost property management system. The umbrella loss problem highlighted here is a major environmental issue with an annual economic loss of about 6.6 billion yen.

We will leverage technology to change the common perception that 'it's natural not to find it' or 'it's cheap so give up,' and contribute to a sustainable society by reducing environmental impact through the reuse of lost items.

We will accelerate partnerships with public transport and commercial facilities to realize a world where lost items are always found.

◆ Tips to Make Lost Items Easier to Find

[Preventive measure] Add distinctive marks to make identification easier.

Umbrellas and wireless earphones are often found in large numbers with similar appearances. Marking them helps identify your own item.

[Preventive measure] Take photos of important items before going out.

We recommend photographing items you tend to lose with your smartphone before going out. If you lose something, attaching a photo when inquiring via 'find chat' dramatically increases the chance of recovery.

◆ About 'Lost Umbrella Cloud find'

'Lost Umbrella Cloud find' is a service that uses technology to solve users' troubles and anxieties of 'even contacting is a hassle' and 'I can't find it even after searching.' By constantly incorporating cutting-edge technology and collaborating with various services, it upgrades to improve convenience. In addition to lost property management, it offers a one-stop solution from improving return rates and administrative efficiency to user communication and police station coordination.

Railway companies, commercial facilities, theme parks