Things I like about Japan #3: Fans

As I think I've mentioned repeatedly, summers in Japan are hot and humid (蒸し暑い, or mushiatsui, is a phrase you'll hear countless times). There are a few things that make this bearable, however. One is the ability for both women and men to carry around fans without looking ridiculous. (And as you can see from the picture above, having a fan at a choice moment can definitely make you friends.)

There are actually two types of hand-held fans common in Japan: uchiwa and sensu. Although many people might think first of folding fans (sensu) as the Japanese cooling implement of choice, uchiwa are actually more popular for everyday use. Uchiwa are flat, non-folding Japanese fans which have been a familiar part of daily life for all classes in Japan since ancient times. They come in all shapes and sizes, from more decorative/formal ones to video game-themes versions to free uchiwas that actually have ads printed on them:



This site has some interesting background information on uchiwa.

The folding style fan is harder to make and thus also more expensive. But according to various sites, although the uchiwa was commonly used in China, the sensu was actually invented in Japan sometime around the 8th century. The earliest versions were made of thin slats of Japanese cypress hinoki wood that were stacked and bound. The production of these folding fans rapidly grew in Kyoto and sensu became popular among the nobility. Gorgeous decorations evolved with the use of elegantly painted designs and paper sprinkled with gold and silver foil. Folding fans were also made for use in Noh, Japanese classical dance, and tea ceremony. In the 13th century, sensu were exported to China and the fashion later migrated to Europe as well.

Again, a variety of styles of sensu are available, though I have yet to see a sensu with ads printed on it:



The fan I'm using above was actually procured in the Philippines, where it seems that lace styles are also popular. In any case, I'm always looking for ways to beat the heat, and these things are great!

Things I like about Japan #2: Shaved Ice

Summers in Japan can be brutally hot and humid, but one thing I always look forward to is shaved ice, or kakigōri. Kakigōri (かき氷) is basically a snow cone, but it's so much better! Instead of the hard chunks of stuck-together crushed ice you typically get in American snow cones, shaved ice is light and fluffy and literally melts in your mouth. My favorite versions have fresh fruit instead of just syrup. It's making my mouth water just thinking about it. :)

The picture of me above was taken at a small restaurant along Tetsugaku no Michi (the same restaurant selling the "canned bear" shown below). That kakigōri sure hit the spot in the midst of a long day of sight-seeing!

Things I like about Japan #1: Kotatsu

It's only the second day of my language program here in Japan, and I'm already exhausted and drowning in work. Given that, I'd like to take the time to share one of the things that I like best about Japan: kotatsu.

A kotatsu (炬燵) is a low wooden table that is very popular in Japan but used almost nowhere else in the world (although Iran has something similar, according to Wikipedia). This alone is great. They make seats to go with them that are essentially chairs without legs. I love to sit down at a kotatsu and do my homework--I think it's super comfy. In the winter, the table has a electrical heat source built into it, and you sandwich a blanket in between the legs/frame and table top to create a (sometimes treacherously) cozy den of warmth. It looks something like this:

Picture courtesy of www.JohnHarveyPhoto.com

When you're reminded of the fact that most Japanese homes don't have central heating, the kotatsu becomes an even more wonderful device (and one that was certainly very useful when I lived in snowy Niigata). Anyway, even though it's summer time here, I've repeatedly snubbed the normal desk in my room to sit at the kotatsu instead. God knows I'll be spending countless hours studying on it!