Arai Bunsendō: Exquisite Hand-Held Fans

Hand-held fans have—in addition to their ordinary uses—long been an accessory used in the traditional Japanese arts. They are indispensable for performers in the arts of kabuki, traditional dance, and rakugo (comic storytelling).

The designs of Edo-period fans were superb, often using bold themes and incorporating large white spaces. One design of the period, for example, features only the head and the tail of a dragon, painted on the edges of the fan. This approach of hiding the body creates the impression that the dragon is enormous.

Arai Bunsendō is a shop that has been selling hand-held fans for over 120 years, with a clientele that includes kabuki performers, dancers, and rakugo storytellers. Its fourth-generation owner, Arai Osamu, designs and creates the fans by hand. “It’s crucial to create a design that is sharp and appealing,” he emphasizes.

Fans displaying a kabuki motif are particularly popular among the shop’s customers, some of whom ask for a design that corresponds to the content of a play that they are going to see.

Arai Bunsendō has built up its popularity over the years by providing beautiful hand-held fans that are as sophisticated as the culture of Asakusa.

The “shibusen” style fan, whose color results from repeatedly dying using persimmon juice. Samurai once used this type of fan. The small fan (for women) is priced at ¥3,040, and the larger version (for men) is ¥3,460.
“Mochisen” fans with a kabuki theme.
Two fans featuring original designs (¥550 each).
The fourth-generation owner of Arai Bunsendō, Arai Osamu, who is dedicated to creating unique fan designs.
The spine of the fan is fixed at the bottom.
Fan-making tools.

 

Arai Bunsendō

Address: 1-20-2 Asakusa, Taitō-ku, Tokyo
Tel: 03-3841-0088
Hours: 10:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (closed the Monday after the 20th of every month)
No minimum quantity for custom-made fan orders
No English explanatory materials
Prices: “mochisen” fans from ¥1,100; handcrafted fans from ¥8,200 for women’s versions and ¥8,900 for men’s versions

Return to map