Mizu-uchiwa (water fan) is a traditional craft made by pasting a very thin colored handmade Japanese paper (ganpishi) on a bamboo handle component of the fan that is finished with a layer of natural varnish. The Japanese paper, washi is produced in Mino, Gifu prefecture which boasts 1300 years history of washi production.
The name “Water fan” is said to come from the transparent water like appearance and also the way the fan itself was made wet with water. Back in the day people moistened the item then fanned to cool themselves through vaporization on hot days.
The mizu-uchiwa was created with great care and effort. In the past it was so popular it was hard to obtain.