Pop Japan

Feeling a bit hot? Cool yourself down with traditional Japanese fans!

There are two main types of fans in Japan - the folding and the non-folding one. These fans have been around for almost a thousand years. Fans may have originated from China, but it became something that the Japanese are closely associated to.

Since the medieval years, fans were regarded as invaluable gifts during and were carefully decorated by calligraphy artists. These types of fans were considered as a good offering to shrines and temples in Japan. They were originally made from leaves and animal hair but it eventually evolved to a bamboo frame and decorated paper or silk.

The folding fan is called a sensu or ougi. These are the commonly used for Kabuki and other forms of Japanese Dances. It can also be used in traditional ceremonies like tea ceremony. It’s a crowd favorite in Japan because it’s cheap and it can easily be carried anywhere with its folding feature.

Non-folding fans are called uchiwas and they are usually round shaped. In popular culture, these non-folding fans are considered to be concert merchandise of idol groups in Japan. The design of these uchiwa include the faces of the idols or the group themselves. During concerts, fans also make their own uchiwa and design it with glow-in-the-dark stickers and other accessories.