WORLD PARTY
Japanese rain-goods maker behind the umbrella brands Wpc., unnurella and KiU.
Last updated September 26, 2026
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Overview
WORLD PARTY (株式会社ワールドパーティー) is a Japanese manufacturer of rain goods headquartered in Abiko, Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka. The company traces its origin to Nakamura Co., Ltd., an umbrella-processing business, and was renamed and re-established as WORLD PARTY in 1994. It plans, manufactures and sells umbrellas, parasols, rainwear, rain boots and other rain-related goods, with production carried out in China to take advantage of scale economies and keep prices down. It deliberately avoids vinyl umbrellas and largely stays out of the department-store market. The company's master brand is Wpc., launched in 2004 under the slogan of creating new possibilities; it began with women's umbrellas and later expanded into unisex and kids lines. In 2015 WORLD PARTY introduced unnurella, a "non-wetting umbrella" brand built on high-density, super-water-repellent fabric, and in 2013 it launched KiU, an outdoor-oriented rain-goods brand associated with music festivals and the concept of adult outdoor play. Together these three brands form the core of the business. WORLD PARTY is known for a fan-building business model: although it was a store-less manufacturer until the March 2019 opening of the KiU flagship store in Shibuya, it sponsored many outdoor festivals and used booths to hear directly from end users. From spring 2015 it adopted a divisional structure to improve profitability, and since 2014 a joint venture established in China has handled sales there. From 2020 it set the theme "be yourself in any weather" and greatly expanded men's products, including the Wpc. IZA men's parasol line. The company is also active in CSR. Its KiU PROJECT disaster-relief fund, started in 2016, donates part of sales, and in 2020 it donated 2,300 rain jackets and ponchos to Osaka City during the COVID-19 pandemic. In May 2020 it received the Medal with Dark Blue Ribbon on the recommendation of the Nippon Foundation. For the fiscal year ending January 2020 it reported more than 5.3 billion yen in sales, a sixth consecutive year of revenue growth.
History
WORLD PARTY's predecessor was Nakamura Co., Ltd., an umbrella-processing business. In 1994 the company changed its name and was established as WORLD PARTY Co., Ltd., beginning operations. In 2004 it launched its master brand w.p.c, initially offering only women's umbrellas. A new head office was completed and the headquarters moved in 2009. In 2010 the company began developing raincoats and started supporting Save the Children Japan; in 2011 it added rain boots. In 2012 it established a joint venture in China, Walter Party (Beijing) Trading Co., Ltd. In 2013 WORLD PARTY launched KiU, a brand proposing an outdoor lifestyle, with Aya Omasa as image character, and in August of that year established a joint venture in China and began wholesale umbrella sales to specialty stores in Beijing, Shanghai and elsewhere. In 2014 it started a unisex line under Wpc. and exhibited at the HIC (China International Clothing & Accessories Fair) in March. In 2015 a new Nagai branch office was completed and the company launched unnurella by WPC, using high-density super-water-repellent fabric. In 2016 it began wpc. for kids, benefited from Chinese tourists' popularity of folding umbrellas, launched Unnurella biz for men's business settings, and started the KiU PROJECT natural-disaster relief fund. A Nagai logistics center was completed in 2017, and Yuko Araki was appointed image model in 2018. In March 2019 the KiU flagship store opened in Shibuya, Tokyo, and on March 19 a 15th-anniversary short film, "Wpc. 15th Anniversary Special Short Movie 'Mada Koko ni Iru'," directed by Shota Sometani and starring Masaki Suda and Sena Nakajima, was released on the Wpc. official website. In October 2019 the company donated reconstruction funds for the Reiwa 1 East Japan Typhoon (Typhoon No. 19) through the Nippon Foundation. In 2020 it used seven artists and models including GEN of 04 Limited Sazabys and Kanasu of HEY-SMITH; achieved a sixth consecutive year of revenue growth for the fiscal year ending January 2020 with sales of more than 5.3 billion yen, driven by outdoor-oriented KiU items such as rain ponchos and strong rain-bag sales. In April 2020, responding to Osaka Mayor Ichiro Matsui's call, it donated 2,300 rain jackets and other items; on April 21 it released collaboration umbrellas with Hello Kitty & Little Twin Stars; in May it began advocating "Social Distancing with a parasol" by Wpc.™; in May it collaborated with community media DROP tokyo on the 2020 SS visual under the theme "NO matter what the weather, I'm always me"; on May 30 it received the Medal with Dark Blue Ribbon on the recommendation of the Nippon Foundation; in June it released a flower umbrella long in collaboration with flower-art unit plantica; and in November it opened its first directly operated Wpc.™ store in Shinsaibashi, Osaka.
- 2020
Achieved sixth consecutive year of revenue growth; donated 2,300 rain items; received Medal with Dark Blue Ribbon; opened first Wpc.™ directly operated store
- 2019
Opened KiU flagship store in Shibuya; released 15th-anniversary short film
- 2018
Appointed Yuko Araki as image model
- 2017
Nagai logistics center completed
- 2016
Started wpc. for kids; launched Unnurella biz; started KiU PROJECT
- 2015
Launched unnurella by WPC; new Nagai branch office completed
- 2014
Started unisex line under Wpc.; exhibited at HIC
- 2013
Launched KiU brand; established joint venture in China and began wholesale umbrella sales
- 2012
Established joint venture Walter Party (Beijing) Trading Co., Ltd. in China
- 2011
Began rain boot development
Products and positioning
Fashion-oriented rain-goods maker that treats umbrellas as fashion and avoids vinyl umbrellas and department-store channels.
Wpc.
Master brand launched in 2004, initially women's umbrellas, later unisex and kids lines.
unnurella
Non-wetting umbrella brand using high-density super-water-repellent fabric.
KiU
Outdoor-oriented rain-goods brand with the concept of adult outdoor play.
Wpc. IZA
High-spec men's parasol line with heat shielding, 100% light blocking and UV cut, UPF50+.
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