Boshu Uchiwa
Boshu Uchiwa (房州うちわ) is a round fan (uchiwa) produced in Minamiboso City and Tateyama City, Chiba Prefecture, designated as a Traditional Craft by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry in 2003. It is recognized as one of Japan's three major uchiwa fans, alongside Kyo Uchiwa from Kyoto City and Marugame Uchiwa from Kagawa Prefecture.
History
The Boso region of Chiba Prefecture has long been known as a source of female bamboo (shinodake), and bamboo material was shipped from the area to Edo as early as the Edo period, with Nako Port (present-day Nako, Tateyama City) serving as the primary shipping point. Uchiwa rib production is recorded as having begun around 1877 in the area surrounding Nako Port. According to the 1918 publication Hosofusa Choson to Jinbutsu, it was in 1884 that Iwaki Sogoro of Nako invited uchiwa craftsmen from Tokyo and commenced local production of uchiwa ribs, an event considered the origin of Boshu Uchiwa. In the early period, only ribs were produced in the Boso region; these were shipped to Tokyo, where they were finished and sold as "Edo Uchiwa."
Around 1887, Oshitari Shintaro of Nako began shipping semi-finished split bamboo products. In 1907, Iwaki Shoshichi expanded this into full-scale processing and shipping of split bamboo. A significant turning point came in 1921, when Tokyo uchiwa wholesaler Yokoyama Torakichi relocated to the Funatachi district (present-day Funatachi, Tateyama City), near Nako Port, and began integrated production from uchiwa ribs through to finished fans. The Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 dealt a major blow to uchiwa production in Tokyo, prompting further Tokyo uchiwa wholesalers to relocate to the Funatachi district, after which full-scale uchiwa production in Boshu began in earnest. Following the earthquake, prefectural industrial promotion guidance was provided, and town-wide uchiwa production took hold. In the fishing communities of Nako, Funatachi, and Tomiura, uchiwa making was widely adopted as side work for women. Boshu Uchiwa was certified as a Chiba Prefecture designated traditional craft in 1984, and received designation as a Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry traditional craft in 2003—the first such national designation for any craft in Chiba Prefecture. It remained the sole METI-designated traditional craft from Chiba Prefecture until Chiba Koshogu received designation in 2017.
Techniques & Production Process
Boshu Uchiwa is made using locally growing female bamboo (thin shinodake) as its primary raw material. A defining characteristic of the craft is the technique by which the tip of a single bamboo stalk is split into 48 to 64 equal parts to form the ribs of the fan, which remain integrated with the round handle as one continuous piece of bamboo. This integrated rib-and-handle construction distinguishes Boshu Uchiwa from other major Japanese uchiwa traditions. All production steps are carried out by hand across a total of 21 discrete stages. Given the large number of steps involved, the work is typically divided among multiple craftspeople, each specializing in particular stages of the process.
How to Identify Boshu Uchiwa
The most distinctive feature of Boshu Uchiwa is its integrated construction: the handle and ribs are formed from a single piece of female bamboo, with the tip split into 48 to 64 equal ribs that fan outward in a rounded shape. This contrasts with Kyo Uchiwa, in which a separate wooden handle is attached to the ribs, and with Marugame Uchiwa, which uses male bamboo (madake) shaved flat rather than the slender female bamboo (shinodake) used in Boshu fans.
The Craft Today
Boshu Uchiwa is designated as both a Chiba Prefecture Traditional Craft and a national Traditional Craft under the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry. At its peak, annual production of Boshu Uchiwa reached 8 million fans. The craft continues to be produced in Minamiboso City and Tateyama City, Chiba Prefecture, in the same coastal communities—Nako, Funatachi, and Tomiura—where it developed from the late nineteenth century onward. As part of Japan's broader traditional crafts infrastructure, Boshu Uchiwa is among the crafts featured at Aoyama Square, a traditional crafts showroom operated by the General Foundation for the Promotion of Traditional Craft Industries, located in Akasaka, Tokyo.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Boshu Uchiwa produced?
Boshu Uchiwa is produced in Minamiboso City and Tateyama City, Chiba Prefecture, in communities including Nako, Funatachi, and Tomiura.
What makes Boshu Uchiwa different from other Japanese round fans?
Boshu Uchiwa is distinguished by its integrated construction, in which the handle and ribs are formed from a single piece of female bamboo (shinodake), with the tip split into 48 to 64 equal parts. By contrast, Kyo Uchiwa uses a separately attached wooden handle, and Marugame Uchiwa uses flat-shaved male bamboo (madake).
When did Boshu Uchiwa receive national traditional craft designation?
Boshu Uchiwa was designated as a Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry traditional craft in 2003, making it the first nationally designated traditional craft from Chiba Prefecture.
How many steps does it take to produce a Boshu Uchiwa?
The production process consists of 21 steps, all carried out by hand. Because of the large number of stages, the work is divided among multiple craftspeople, each responsible for specific steps.
What is the historical origin of Boshu Uchiwa?
According to the 1918 publication Hosofusa Choson to Jinbutsu, Boshu Uchiwa originated in 1884 when Iwaki Sogoro of Nako invited uchiwa craftsmen from Tokyo to the Boso region to begin local rib production. The region had previously been known as a supplier of raw bamboo material to Edo.
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