“Ibasen”

A Long-Established Fan Shop with Roots as an Ukiyo-e Publisher

The history of “Ibasen” dates back more than 400 years to the Edo period. Its founder, Ibaya Kanzaemon, originally worked in civil engineering in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka. He later moved to Nihonbashi in Edo, now Nihonbashi in Tokyo, to take part in development work in the castle town surrounding Edo Castle. After the work was completed, Ibaya Kanzaemon became a purveyor to the shogunate and is said to have eventually begun manufacturing and selling folding fans and uchiwa. In the late Edo period, as folding fans and uchiwa became widespread among ordinary people, “Ibasen” used the woodblock-printing techniques that were flourishing at the time and incorporated designs by popular ukiyo-e artists into its products. The business involved deciding which artist to commission, what kind of design to have created, and how to turn that design into a product and bring it to market. In modern terms, this role was similar to that of a publishing producer who works with writers and creators to generate trends through products and media. For Edokko—the townspeople of Edo—uchiwa were indispensable everyday tools used to keep cool in summer, brush away insects, and help start fires. At the same time, an uchiwa also served as a small medium that reflected its owner’s tastes and the fashions of the day. “Ibasen” became widely known as an ukiyo-e publisher that used uchiwa as a medium for introducing new trends.

About 300 Designs, from Traditional to Contemporary

The core of the shop’s selection is Edo sensu folding fans and Edo uchiwa. Edo sensu have fewer ribs than Kyoto-style folding fans, which gives the folded washi paper wider pleats. This also allows bold designs to be arranged more dramatically when the fan is opened. Unlike typical Kyoto uchiwa, an Edo uchiwa is made by finely splitting a single piece of bamboo so that the handle and the fan section form one continuous structure. The shop also offers a wide variety of other folding fans and uchiwa: pieces that showcase the distinctive character of handcraftsmanship; durable items made with kakishibu, a traditional Japanese coating made from astringent persimmons; products suitable for gifts; and decorative pieces for display. Altogether, the shop carries about 300 varieties.

Create a One-of-a-Kind Original Folding Fan

With an advance reservation, visitors can take part in a folding fan-making workshop. First, participants sketch on a blank sheet of paper to decide on the overall design. They then freely create their design using brush pens, stamps, and stencils. During the workshop, staff also explain the history of folding fans and how they are made. The workshop takes about two hours.