Knowledge about Japanese Fan

Almost all the “SENSU”　are produced by handicraft, so each industrial artist's skills are represented in each handiwork.
 Recently various types of “SENSU” go on sale,
but it primarily is lasting with careful usage
and also the papers are able to be recovered.
IBASEN　wants to anyone to use “SENSU”　for a long time,
and recommend the followings as the advice to discriminate good “SENSU” from the others.

 
Structure of “SENSU”
Move your mouse and appoint a part with the pointer, please.
You'll get the explanation of each part.


A good “SENSU”　（folding fan) is ……
As shown in the above, “SENSU” is composed of several parts, each of which keeps 　
important conditions for a good “SENSU”.

 

“KAMI”

 

 paper For the both sides of “SENSU”, paper is used. Please check the front view of a folded
“SENSU” whether it is symmetry or not, and whether all of the folded lines of paper are
flat or not. The smoothness of the folded part is just the evidence of proficient craftman.

“HONE”
bone

The material of bone is bamboo, and normally 　“MOHSOHDAKE”　( a kind of bamboo) is used. It is said that a thick and strait bamboo is the best.
When bamboo is usd for the bone of “SENSU”, the plate of bamboo is sliced into three parts
to keep those parts in same thickness. The outside part with rind is called “KAWABONE”.
The inside parts are also used, but the goods with “KAWABONE” are strong and lasting.
The high-grade “SENSU” are composed of such “KAWABONE”　for rib and main bone which
surface are smooth and glossy.
A good “SENSU” has the appropriate ribs with enough length. You can discriminate good one
when you open a “SENSU” in front of light and see through. Those which has a small space
less than 1cm between the “TEN” (top of paper) and the top of “NAKABONE” (ribs) are
good “SENSU”. When the space of the above is larger, those “SENSU” will be weak and
of less flexibility which cause trouble for the gentle breeze. Some of “NAKABONE” has
various pattern of fretwork.
     

“KANAME”
kaname In Japanese, “KANAME” is the word wich means the most important part, and also in “SENSU”,
identical with the original word, it is absolutely the most important part. Both too loose and
too tight are not good. In the past the whisker of whale had been used for “KANAME”,
but at present a quality plastic is used.