In Japan, makers of fans are in high gear

CHIBA, Japan - Craftsmen in Mina-miboso, Chiba Prefecture, are busy producing Boshu uchiwa fans before the arrival of the sweltering summer heat.

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Published 20 June 2015 5:25am

Updated 8 January 2016 11:25pm

Source: The Washington Post

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Designated a national traditional craft product, they are a style of Japanese fans — distinguished by a rounded handle.

The fans go through a 21-stage process, from collection of the bamboo to papering, before they are complete.

At Uyama Kobo in the city, Masao Uyama performs the whole procedure by himself. At 84 years old, he has a career spanning more than 60 years.

There are few willing apprentices to inherit the skill of making Boshu fans. "I'll make fans as long as I'm healthy enough to work, in order to preserve this tradition," said Uyama.

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