Beloved mother figure Maetel from Leiji Matsumoto's Galaxy Express 999 is one of the most fondly remembered characters in anime, with tributes of all sorts spanning media. The latest is one you can bring home: an umbrella created via collaboration between Matsumoto and Lumiebre, evoking the image of the sci-fi heroine.

Lumiebre is well known in Japan for their umbrella and parasol designs targeted to the goth lolita set. This new design integrates both Maetel's black ensemble and the world of the series. From the outside it's a plain black parasol, with two fluffy black tassels like the ones on Maetel's cape.

Underneath the parasol, though, the bearer is surrounded by a multicolored view of the universe, complete with a silhouette of Maetel on one panel.

The parasol retails for 10,260 yen, and will be shipped out via Village Vanguard later this month. Buyers will also receive a limited-edition clear file featuring new art of Maetel and her parasol:

>> Order Maetel parasol from Village Vanguard

>> Watch Galaxy Express 999 on Crunchyroll

Source: Anime! Anime!

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Kara Dennison is responsible for multiple webcomics, blogs and runs interviews for (Re)Generation Who and PotterVerse, and is half the creative team behind the OEL light novel series Owl's Flower. She blogs at karadennison.com and tweets @RubyCosmos. Her latest story can be found in Ride the Star Wind, available now from Broken Eye Books.