Bringing the Beauty by Skilled Artisans over 100 years
Kyoto-Kinki
Area
A place you can see “attractive Japan”
Kyoto is one of the most famous sightseeing spots in Japan and attracts a lot of people from both inside and outside Japan. More than 87 million people visited Kyoto in 2019, which was a record high. As an ancient capital of Japan, temples, shrines, and other “Japanese-like” structures or scenes that are also historically important are seen everywhere in Kyoto.
From food to culture and atmosphere, “attractive Japan” is condensed within Kyoto.
Traditional crafts such as Nishijin-Ori (Nishijin Fabric), Kiyomizu Yaki (Kiyomizu Ware), and Kyo Sensu (Kyoto Folding Fan), etc., are also essential factors that composes the city of Kyoto.
History
With people, Without changing its shape
Our stories begin when our ancestors started their business from Motoyui, which is a band to tie hair made by Washi, Japanese paper. Then they gradually changed their business to make Japanese folding fans using Washi in accordance with the times. You may be surprised to know that there were/are hair bands and Japanese folding fans made of paper, but Washi is strong and durable. Some people say “Folding fans made of Washi are more durable than those made of fabric”.
Japanese folding fans started to be used among nobles and priests in Kyoto almost 1,200 years ago, when Kyoto was the capital of Japan. We call the folding fans made in Kyoto especially “Kyo-Sensu”, which means “Kyoto folding fans”.
When we open a Kyoto folding fan, the edge spreads widely. The shape of this opening fan is called “Suehirogari”, and is said to be lucky. Each line on both sides broadens toward the end, and we see long-lasting prosperity there.
Not only as a tool to cool us down on hot days, but also as a stage property of Japanese traditional performance art like Kabuki or Noh, Japan/Kyoto folding fans are quite familiar to us Japanese. They are also one of the important items for Kimono or Yukata, traditional Japanese outfits worn for celebrations and formal events.
Kyoto folding fans have never changed their shape since their origin, and we have been close to many people by making them.
Characteristic
Kyoto foliding fans with fregrance
While we cherish the history of Kyoto folding fans, we also have been developing new fans adapted to the new era. Fans with fragrances are one of them.
The scent will last for almost one year! The bamboo used for Kyoto folding fans is thinly sliced, and good at holding the smell. We hope you enjoy the combination of history and modern fragrance.
We also have a huge selection of regular Kyoto folding fans without fragrance, so we hope you find your favorite one.
For Customers
Generate wind of culture
As time flies, electric fans and air conditioners have been developed to make it through hot seasons. It may be difficult for Kyoto folding fans to be superior to them in a sense of cooling down someone. But we believe we can color and enrich our lives.
It's an honor to announce that Northern Ballet has adopted our Kyoto folding fans as their stage property for their stage program “Geisha”. We are happy to see our products go beyond borders.
We are here to generate the wind of culture and pass the Suzumu(Japanese way of cooling down) culture to the next generation.
Award
2018 Kyo-Mono Youth Competition: Grand prize
2019 12th Culture Venture Competition: Kyoto Prefecture Governor Excellence Award
2019 10th Chie Business Plan Contest (Kyoto Chamber of Commerce and Industry): Certified