Collection: Folding Fan
Traditional Japanese Accessories Representing Japan
Add Calligraphy or Artwork to Create Your Own Original Fan
In Japan, there has long been a culture of familiarity with folding fans.
Even today, fanning yourself during the hot summer to create a breeze and cool down is still a part of everyday life.
But a folding fan is more than just a practical tool. You can add your favorite calligraphy or drawings to make it your own original fan.
Of course, it can be used as it is, but adding a personal touch to a plain fan transforms it into a unique piece.
If you’d like to draw your own artwork or write your favorite words, why not enjoy creating something original?
The Charm of Calligraphy and Fans
When drawing characters or pictures on a fan, spread the plain fan open on a desk and hold it down with your hand as you write.
The folded sections of the paper tend to cause blurring, but this also adds movement and becomes part of the fan’s unique charm.
Once you’ve created a piece you’re happy with, display it in your room and enjoy it as an artwork.
Women’s and Men’s Fans
Folding fans also come in women’s and men’s sizes.
Generally, women’s fans are “6 sun 5 bu (approx. 20cm)” and men’s fans are “7 sun 5 bu (approx. 23cm).” Women’s fans are slightly smaller than men’s.
Since appearance is important, men should look stylish and women graceful when holding them—the visual impression is key.
Tea Ceremony Fans for Practice
Tea ceremony fans are ideal for lessons such as tea ceremony practice, where they are considered essential tools.
During greetings, placing the fan in front of oneself serves as a respectful gesture, symbolizing a boundary with the other person.
Fan ColumnHUDE Colum
Parts of a Folding Fan
Names of the Parts
Each part of a folding fan has its own name. Here’s a brief introduction to the basic parts of a fan.
Interestingly, the Japanese expression “kanjin kaname” (meaning “crucial point”) originates from a part of the fan.
・Ten (Top) … the top edge of the fan surface.
・Senmen (Fan surface) … the paper or fabric-covered surface of the fan.
・Nakabone (Middle ribs) … the central ribs of the fan. These may be plain or decorated with intricate cut-out patterns.
・Oyabone (Main ribs) … the thick outer ribs on each side when the fan is folded.
・Kaname (Pivot) … the end that holds all the ribs together when opening and closing the fan (the non-opening end).
The History of Folding Fans
Nara Period – The Birth of Fans in Japan
A folding fan consists of several thin bamboo or wooden ribs fastened together at one end, with paper or fabric attached so it can be opened and folded.
It is commonly used to send a breeze by hand during hot summers, but when exactly were fans first created?
Although the exact origins are unclear, it is believed that fans existed as early as the Nara period.
Originally known as “hiōgi,” these fans were made of thin cypress boards stacked together. By the Heian period, they became part of the attire of nobles at the imperial court.
Though their function evolved over time, fans were often highly decorative, adorned with beautiful paintings and colors.
Even today, folding fans remain deeply connected to Japanese culture and are used in many situations.
Fans as Symbols of Celebration
The shape of the fan, spreading wide when opened, came to symbolize good fortune, making it popular for celebrations.
Fans have also been used extensively in rituals and performing arts such as Noh, Kyogen, Kabuki, Nihon Buyo, and Rakugo. Even today, they appear across Japan’s traditional performing arts.
Beyond their practical use for cooling, fans embody Japanese aesthetics, making them an indispensable traditional tool.