Shikoku Dansen

“Uchiwa Kazari” – A Decorative Fan Sending a Tailwind of Good Fortune

The uchiwa kazari (decorative fan) features a bamboo-ribbed fan that symbolizes “OIKAZE,” or tailwind—a wind that blows from behind in the direction of a ship’s travel. In Japanese culture, oikaze also signifies favorable momentum and supportive forces that help one achieve a goal.

When the fan, made with broadening bamboo ribs and washi paper, is placed on a wooden boat-shaped stand, it takes the form of a sailing vessel catching the tailwind. Another variation, placed on a scallop-shaped wooden base, resembles a gourd—an auspicious shape in Japanese tradition.

The fan surface is hand-decorated with suri-haku, a traditional gold foil embellishment technique used in Kyoto Yuzen kimono, crafted meticulously one by one at the renowned Tanaka Kinsai Kogei studio, which has over a hundred years of history. Both fan types can be enjoyed as traditional Japanese interior decor, while also remaining functional.

An Exquisite Uchiwa Fan Crafted by Traditional Artisans

The handle, elegantly curved with laser-carved bamboo, is lacquered by artisans of Kagawa's traditional craft, Kagawa Lacquerware. The fan face is made with Ozuwashi, handmade washi paper from Uchiko Town in Kita District, Ehime Prefecture. Artisans from Ikazaki Shachu apply European-style gilding techniques to adorn each fan surface with metallic leaf.

Finally, a certified traditional craftsman of Marugame Uchiwa in Kagawa carefully completes each fan by attaching the surface and binding the edges. Each fan comes with  a versatile wooden stand that allows it to be displayed upright or hung on the wall—combining functionality with refined Japanese aesthetics.

Celebrating 100 Years: Shikoku Dansen Co., Ltd.

Founded in 1924 (Taishō 13) in Marugame City, Kagawa Prefecture, Shikoku Dansen Co., Ltd. has been crafting uchiwa fans and folding fans for over a century.

The uchiwa, with its fan shape widening like a “spreading fortune,” has long been regarded as a talisman to ward off misfortune and summon good luck. It is also a practical summer necessity, cherished in Japan’s humid climate, and admired for its elegant designs—making it a popular and eco-friendly seasonal gift.

Our company was the first in Japan to develop plastic uchiwa fans. At the same time, we continue to honor the legacy of Marugame Uchiwa by merging traditional techniques with modern innovations, enabling the industry’s first mass production of bamboo uchiwa.
Under the brand concept of “Delivering the Wind”, we are committed to continually introducing higher-quality products to the market.

The Town of Marugame: A Legacy of Uchiwa Craftsmanship

Marugame City flourished as a castle town under the Marugame Domain and served as a gateway to the Kotohira Shrine. It is said that Marugame Uchiwa originated in 1633 (Kan'ei 10), when Yūgen, a chief priest of Konpira Daigongen, created the “Marukin shibu-uchiwa” (persimmon-lacquered fan with the Marukin crest), which later spread throughout Japan as a popular souvenir for shrine pilgrims.

Today, Marugame is renowned not only as the home of Sanuki udon noodles but also as Japan’s top uchiwa-producing region. The area is also closely tied to the Buddhist monk Kūkai (Kōbō Daishi), the founder of Shingon Buddhism, and serves as an important site along the Shikoku 88-Temple Pilgrimage. In front of the Shikoku Dansen Co. headquarters stands a stone monument inscribed with: “In front of the Uchiwa shop lies the path of the Shikoku Pilgrimage.”