  This paper reconsiders finite variable reductions of the universal Whitham
hierarchy of genus zero in the perspective of dispersionless Hirota equations.
In the case of one-variable reduction, dispersionless Hirota equations turn out
to be a powerful tool for understanding the mechanism of reduction. All
relevant equations describing the reduction (L\"owner-type equations and
diagonal hydrodynamic equations) can be thereby derived and justified in a
unified manner. The case of multi-variable reductions is not so
straightforward. Nevertheless, the reduction procedure can be formulated in a
general form, and justified with the aid of dispersionless Hirota equations. As
an application, previous results of Guil, Ma\~{n}as and Mart\'{\i}nez Alonso
are reconfirmed in this formulation.
