One of the most popular souvenir items for foreigners is the Japanese fan.
There are a variety of fans available, from those made of high-grade materials sold in department stores to those readily available at general merchandise stores.
Some foreigners may want to buy a cute fan as a gift for a friend, or may want to buy a fan sold in Japan for themselves.
Therefore, this article introduces six fans that are recommended Japanese souvenirs for foreigners.
Please refer to it when you are wondering which one to buy as a souvenir at a nearby department store or general store during your trip to Kyoto or Osaka.
“Silk fan Sakura” with English instructions
A fan recommended as a Japanese souvenir for foreigners is the “Silk Fan Sakura” (1,650 yen including tax).
This fan is made of luxurious silk and features a gorgeous cherry blossom pattern, a symbol of Japan, which can be used regardless of the season. It can be used not only as a fan in the hot season, but also as an ornament for interior decoration.
The cherry blossoms used in the design have the Japanese floral words “spiritual beauty,” “graceful woman,” and “purity. These meanings derive from the fact that the cherry blossom is a symbol of the nobility of the Japanese people, as it is the most representative flower of Japan, and from the beauty of the cherry blossom.
In addition, in the West, the language of flowers for cherry blossoms is “spiritual beauty” and “a good education,” indicating that cherry blossoms are treated as a symbol of beauty throughout the world.
This silk fan comes with an English instruction manual, so it is a gift that can be given to a foreigner without worry.
‟Ai Kagetsu” fans in a paulownia wood box, recommended as a gift
The next most popular fan as a Japanese souvenir for foreigners is “Ai Kagetsu” (12,100 yen including tax), which comes in a paulownia wood box.
This fan is hand-drawn by a “fan painter” who specializes in drawing pictures on fans, and the original paintings are expressed in deep indigo colors. The designs are based on the traditional Japanese motifs of “Nadeko” and “Sakura” (cherry blossoms), and there are two types to choose from.
Nadeko is named “Nadeko” because the flower was so pretty that one would want to pet it, which is why it has such flowery words as “innocence” and “pure love.
Cherry blossoms, on the other hand, have come to have such flower words as “graceful woman” and “purity” because of their beauty when in bloom.
Both have the appearance of splendor, such as “beauty” and “innocence.
Both types of items embrace a stately beauty, combining the elegant calmness of the indigo color with the delicacy of the hand-painted pictures.
“Silk fan Dragonfly” with elegant patterns and materials
The “Silk Fan Dragonfly” (1,650 yen including tax), with its elegant patterns and materials, is another fan recommended as a Japanese souvenir for foreigners.
With a white dragonfly pattern on a navy blue silk ground that evokes a sense of dignity, this fan is a cool and refreshing way to feel summer.
Because the color is navy blue and the design is a simple dragonfly pattern, this is a standard product that can be used by both men and women.
Dragonflies are insects that can be seen by rivers in Japan from summer to autumn. Since dragonflies only move forward and cannot fly, and do not retreat backward, they have long been called “victorious insects” that bring victory and have been treated as a good luck charm.
It is said that it was especially appreciated by warriors as a symbol of “never retreating and never retreating. In addition, because fans are compact items and do not get in the way of luggage when returning home, they are the perfect souvenir for those who have a lot of luggage to bring back home.
“Fugaku Sanjurokkei (Thirty-six Views of Mt. Fuji)fan” with a motif of ukiyoe by Katsushika Hokusai
The next recommended Japanese souvenir for foreigners is the “Fugaku Sanjurokkei (Thirty-six views of Mt. Fuji) fan ”(1,250 yen including tax).
This fan is based on the motif of “Fugaku Sanjurokkei (Thirty-six views of Mt. Fuji)” painted by the ukiyoe artist Katsushika Hokusai.
Katsushika Hokusai was an ukiyoe (woodblock print) painter active in the late Edo period (1603-1868). He is known for his 46 paintings of various views of Mt. Fuji he viewed and observed from different parts of the country.
Among the 36 views of Mt. Fuji, “Kanagawa Okinamiura” and “Gai Fu Kaisei” were used in the fan design. In Kanagawa Okinamiura, the impressive painting depicts large waves and people on the verge of drowning to convey that Mt. Fuji is so great that it is completely unaffected by the roughness of the sea.
Also, in Triumphant Wind and Clear Weather, we can see that the painting depicts Mt. Fuji towering magnificently amidst the clouds with a hint of autumn. This is a perfect souvenir for foreigners who love Mt.
“Dragon” fan with a unique brush stroke design
“Dragon” (3,740 yen with fan stand) is another fan recommended as a Japanese souvenir for foreigners.
This fan features a dragon vigorously drawn in white on a dark indigo material. The brushstrokes give the dragon an active impression, and the indigo color gives the item an even more dignified atmosphere.
The dragon, a legendary creature, was worshipped in Japan during the Jomon and Yayoi periods as a water deity essential for rice cultivation. It is said that the electricity “thunder” and “lightning” from the heavens that is produced when dragons descend has a purifying effect by bringing blessed rain. For this reason, dragons have long been regarded as a good-luck item, and are therefore recommended for those who like lucky charms.
In addition, the production of the paper and bamboo used for the fans, as well as their manufacture, takes place in Japan. The fan comes in a box with a fan stand, which is useful when used as an ornament, for 3,740 yen (tax included), while the fan without the fan stand is available for 2,420 yen (tax included).
Sumo fan “Sumo Sumo room” can also be used for decoration
The last recommended fan that we would like to introduce as a Japanese souvenir for foreigners is the “Sumo Sumo Room” (3,080 yen including tax), which depicts sumo wrestlers performing sumo.
This fan depicts sumo wrestlers performing sumo. It features an ukiyoe style depicting customs and manners drawn from the Edo period to the Taisho period (1912-1926).
It is said that sumo was originally an act to divine a good harvest and a good catch of fish, and that the game was derived from “shiko,” in which “rikishi,” who performs Shinto rituals, stomp on the earth to shake off evil spirits. Therefore, strong wrestlers and yokozuna, or sumo wrestlers in general, are considered lucky. This is the perfect item for those who like good luck.
This fan can also be used as a decorative fan. It can be displayed as it is, but if you purchase a set of fan stands (sold separately), the fan will stand out even more as an ornament.
Conclusion
This time, we have introduced six fans that are recommended Japanese souvenirs for foreigners.
In Japan, a wide variety of fans are sold, including cherry blossoms, petals, dragonflies, and dragons. In particular, ukiyoe prints and designs of sumo wrestlers may be very rare for foreigners.
If you are interested in Japanese-style fans with a luxurious feel, we recommend that you stop by a department store in Kyoto or Osaka. Also, if you have a small budget but want to give a fan as a souvenir to many friends, please consider which fan to buy by visiting a general store in Kyoto or Osaka in person.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
