Japan’s paper fans on display in Vietnam

 An exhibition of Japanese paper fans is being held at the Japanese Cultural Centre from September 24 to October 16 and a seminar on Japanese paper fans is slated for September 25-27 at the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology in Hanoi.
The two activities aim to introduce Japan’s cultural values to the Vietnamese public, particularly the Japanese paper fan.
Japan’s paper fans have an age-old history dating back to the year of 1663 when a Japanese monk came up with an idea to make paper fans. It was not until 1780 that the Medake Marue Uchiwa fan went into production. In 1880, a businessman in Tomiyacho made the Shiyoa Hirae Uchiwa fan. With a mix of designs from the different regions, the Marugame Uchiwa paper fan was produced later.
Now the fans bearing the trademark Marugame Uchiwa account for 80-90 percent of Japan’s paper fan market.
Japanese use the Uchiwa to perform at tea-parties, in the theatre and during solemn rituals.