Since 1944, Shiomi Dansen has been producing Kyoto Fan, the traditional hand fans of Kyoto. Drawing on decades of accumulated skill and passion, they combine traditional craftsmanship with modern techniques and trends to create fans in a wide variety of designs.

Also called Miyako Uchiwa (“Capital Fans”), these fans trace their origins to the Gosho Uchiwa of the Edo period, used among aristocrats after the craft arrived in Japan via China and Korea. Beyond simply providing a breeze, they served to shield against wind, light, or dust, and even to conceal the face as ornamental accessories. Until a few decades ago, fans were also an important part of Japan’s gift-giving culture—rice shops, sake brewers, and kimono merchants would present fans bearing their shop names as midsummer gifts.

Shiomi Dansen’s fans are crafted using the traditional sashie structure unique to Kyoto Fan. In this method, the fan’s handle and ribs are made separately, and the fan surface is slotted into the handle. This creates an exceptionally flat surface, making it possible to feature paintings, landscapes, haiku, waka poetry, and other motifs through techniques such as painting, woodblock printing, hand-dyeing, and carvi

Shiomi Dansen seeks to make Kyoto Fan more accessible through a variety of initiatives. One example is custom-made fans, where customers can provide their own fabrics, artwork, photos, or cut-paper designs to be turned into fans.

They also produce modern designs that blend tradition with contemporary style: “Mori no Uchiwa,” which can be placed anywhere with a wooden stand as interior décor; “Vegetables Uchiwa,” with fresh, vibrant motifs inspired by Kyoto vegetables; and “Kakusen,” square fans with sleek modern designs suited even to Western interiors. Such work earned them the Best Master’s Craft Award at the 9th Tokyo Gift Show Life & Design Exhibit

Their fans are not limited to the typical round or square shapes—unique and unusual designs are also possible, all made with the highest-quality domestic materials: supple and resilient madake bamboo from Tanba for the ribs, and traditional washi papers from Mino, Etchū, and Echizen.

Fan-making requires focus, with precise steps such as attaching the handle (esashi), binding the edges with slender strips of paper (heritōri), and impressing fine grooves with a nenbera tool. These extra touches ensure that Shiomi Dansen’s fans combine comfort in use with refined beauty.

For president Yoshikatsu Akita, satisfaction comes not only from preserving traditional uses and designs but also from exploring new possibilities. His goal: “To create high-quality fans that endure as a traditional industry, while also making slightly unusual fans that people will want to share widely. I want more people to know that Kyoto, a city of refinement, has such diverse fans made by Shiomi Dansen—and I want them to feel the breeze for themselves.”

Made from natural materials and providing a refreshing breeze without the need for electricity, the Kyōuchiwa is in fact an eco-friendly, sustainable item perfectly suited to modern living. Experience the gentle comfort of its breeze—pick up one of these high-quality fans and feel the difference.

Interview: Takuya Arata Photography: Daiki Morishita Text: Kento Onishi