Japanese fan 'Wave of Kanagawa
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Japanese Fan 'Wave of Kanagawa' — Hokusai Sensu Folding Fan
The Great Wave off Kanagawa — Katsushika Hokusai's 1831 woodblock print — has become Japan's most recognized image worldwide. Three fishing boats battle a towering wave while Mount Fuji sits serenely in the distance. The image has inspired Van Gogh, Debussy, and generations of artists who found in it a perfect visual meditation on the relationship between human smallness and natural force.
The sensu (folding fan) is one of Japan's genuine cultural inventions — developed during the Heian period (794-1185), centuries before China or Europe adopted the form. Sensu became essential accessories in Japanese court culture, tea ceremony, and theatrical performance. When paired with the Kanagawa Wave imagery, the fan becomes a walking piece of ukiyo-e art.
Built with a bamboo wood structure and handcrafted construction, this fan measures 21cm high by 38cm wide when fully opened. The bamboo framework gives the fan the characteristic feel and subtle snap of traditional Japanese folding fans, while the printed Kanagawa Wave design reads clearly when the fan is open. Folds down compactly for easy carry.
This fan works beautifully as both a functional summer accessory and a striking decorative piece. Carry it on hot days for portable cooling, display it open on a wall or in a frame as a piece of Japanese art, or gift it to anyone drawn to Hokusai, ukiyo-e tradition, or classical Japanese design. A meaningful object that bridges art history and daily utility.
- Traditional folding fan (sensu) design
- Bamboo wood structure
- Handcrafted construction
- Dimensions: 21 cm high x 38 cm wide (open)
- Functional accessory and decorative piece