Uchiwa Ota-ya

Originally based in Tokyo, Uchiwa Ota-ya once produced Edo Uchiwa—traditional Japanese fans crafted in the capital since the Edo period. However, following the war, many wholesalers and artisans relocated to Boshu, a region rich in female bamboo, the essential material for fan-making. Seizing this opportunity, Ota-ya moved to Boshu as well. Today, the workshop continues its craft under the leadership of Mitsue Ota, a 4th-generation artisan.

The Uchiwa has its origins in ancient China and was introduced to Japan, where early examples are preserved in the Shosoin Repository and mentioned in the Manyoshu, Japan’s oldest poetry anthology. Traditionally, Uchiwa were used not only for cooling, but also for sunshade, dust protection, rituals, festivals, and even to conceal the faces of nobles. By the Nara and Heian periods, they had become both practical tools and decorative items, incorporated into the courtly culture of the time.

In the Edo period (1603–1868), improvements in bamboo and papermaking technologies enabled mass production, making Uchiwa widely available to the general public. Among the three major production centres—Edo (now Tokyo), Kyoto, and Marugame—Edo Uchiwa became particularly popular as decorative picture fans featuring ukiyo-e and woodblock prints, becoming a staple accessory in women’s summer fashion.

Essential to Edo Uchiwa was medake (female bamboo) from the Boshu region of Chiba Prefecture. Known for its long, supple joints, this bamboo was ideal for fan spines. Funagata in Tateyama City thrived as a bamboo supply hub, sending materials to Edo. After the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923, many Edo fan artisans relocated to Funagata and its surrounding areas, where fan production flourished. This marked the birth of the unique local industry now known as Boshu Uchiwa.

Based in Minami-Boso City, Chiba Prefecture, Mitsue Ota is the 4th-generation head of Uchiwa Ota-ya. She has long dedicated herself to crafting Boshu Uchiwa, which are officially designated as a Traditional Craft by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. After taking over the family business in 1977, she became, in January 2023, the first craftsperson of Boshu Uchiwa to be certified as a Traditional Artisan by the Ministry.

She uses local medake bamboo—known for its flexibility and long joints—to handcraft each fan with care. These fans create a soft and pleasant breeze. Her designs, including those featuring traditional kimono fabrics like yukata cotton and chirimen crepe, skilfully blend classic techniques with contemporary aesthetics.

Since 2014, she has also served as an instructor for the “Introductory Course in Boshu Uchiwa Craftsmanship,” nurturing the next generation of artisans and continuing to support the world of traditional Japanese craftsmanship.