Mizu Uchiwa is a summer tradition crafted around the Kawaramachi district of Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture - a truly one-of-a-kind fan that feels especially cool when dipped in water and fanned, thanks to the cooling effect of evaporation. Made by applying varnish to gampi paper pulped to an extreme thinness, it is prized for a transparency so fine that the scenery on the other side can be seen through it, a quality that developed uniquely within the history of Gifu Uchiwa fans, said to date back to the Muromachi period. Mizu Uchiwa developed as a souvenir associated with cormorant fishing on the Nagara River, but production once ceased due to difficulty obtaining gampi, the raw material, before being revived around the time of the 2005 World Exposition in Aichi. Artisans today still finish each fan entirely by hand.
Origin
Gifu Uchiwa fans have a long history, with records already found in the Muromachi period. One of their origins is said to be as souvenirs made for visitors to Nagara River cormorant fishing. The background to uchiwa-making taking root in Gifu includes the city's setting in a basin blessed with high-quality bamboo, and its prosperity as a paper wholesaler town that made use of the Nagara River's water transport.
History
Mizu Uchiwa developed as a type of Gifu Uchiwa made by applying varnish to thin gampi paper, but production once ceased for a time because the raw material, gampi, became difficult to obtain. It was revived by artisans around the time of the 2005 World Exposition in Aichi, and the traditional craftsmanship continues to be passed down today.
Features
The greatest characteristic of Mizu Uchiwa is that dipping it in water and fanning creates a cooling sensation through evaporative heat loss. Applying varnish to gampi paper pulped to an extreme thinness gives it a water-like transparency, finished so thin that the scenery on the other side can be seen through it. Every step, down to pasting washi paper onto the bamboo frame, is done entirely by hand by artisans.
Materials Used
Production Process
- 1
Removing debris
Dust clinging to the fibers of the extremely thin gampi paper is removed by hand, one piece at a time, in cold water.
- 2
Making the bamboo frame
The bamboo that forms the fan's frame is split into thin strips and shaped into a supple frame.
- 3
Pasting the paper
The thin gampi paper is carefully pasted onto the bamboo frame.
- 4
Applying varnish
Natural varnish is applied in layers over the pasted paper surface, giving it a water-like transparency and added strength to finish the fan.
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Artisans & Workshops
家田紙工株式会社
A paper-goods maker in Mino City, Gifu Prefecture, that produces Mizu Uchiwa. While preserving the traditional technique of applying varnish to gampi paper, the company hand-makes each fan with elaborate designs such as goldfish and morning glories. Prices are mainly in the range of about 7,000 to 10,000 yen.
Official site →How to Buy
- Kawaramachiya
- A Japanese-style cafe and gallery in the Kawaramachi district of Gifu City. It carries Mizu Uchiwa and other traditional crafts and Japanese sundries from Gifu.Where to buy →PR