I intended to toss up a post earlier in the month about this, but better late–and on Halloween–than never. The “monster umbrella” mentioned by Arisa and Colin in this 2011 Halloween storyline is a reference to the infamous karakasa, which is, as Arisa mentions, a common household item brought to life through great age (specifically, if memory serves, on its 100th “birthday”). For a bit more about the karakasa, check out the Obakemono Project. You can read up on some other tsukumogami yokai while you’re there. (As if surfing the Internet tonight were better than soliciting your neighbors for candy under veiled threat of mischief.)