Unfolding Kyoto’s Scenery and Fragrance with a Kyō Sensu Fan｜Onishi Tsune Shoten, Hisao Onishi〈Kyō Sensu〉

Onishi Tsune Shoten: A Long-Established Kyoto Sensu (Fan) Store

Onishi Tsune Shoten is a long-established store founded in Kennin-ji, Kyoto, during the Edo to Meiji periods, as a motoyui (hair tie) manufacturer. Motoyui were paper hair ties used to style Nihongami (traditional Japanese hairstyles) and were indispensable to the daily lives of Japanese women in the past. However, as times changed, the Nihongami culture declined, and as Western clothing became widespread, demand decreased. Taking this opportunity, the Onishi family transitioned their business to fan manufacturing, and for over a hundred years since then, they have consistently handled everything from fan production to sales. Their trusted relationships with quality-conscious customers, such as temples, shrines, and shogi masters, continue to this day.

From a "Fan-Making Company" to a "Wind-Creating Company"

Sensu (folding fans) were born in the Heian period and are traditional crafts nurtured within Japanese culture through performing arts such as Noh and dance. At Onishi Tsune Shoten, their mission is not just to make fans, but to pass on the culture and aesthetic sensibility behind them to the next generation. They are truly a company that "creates the wind of culture."

Traditional Yet Innovative "Room Fragrance Kaza"

My encounter with Onishi Tsune Shoten was through the "Atarashiki Mono Kyoto" project organized by the Kyoto Chamber of Commerce and Industry. In this project, centered around the then-young proprietress, Rie Onishi, we worked with designers and producers to create the innovative product, "Room Fragrance Kaza."

This product features thinly carved bamboo fan ribs placed in a Kiyomizu ware vessel, allowing aromatic oil to be absorbed and gently diffused from the fan surface.

What was traditionally a tool to alleviate summer heat has evolved into an interior item that allows you to enjoy fragrances regardless of the season. "Kaza" means "fragrance" in the Kyoto dialect, offering a new fan experience that can be enjoyed both visually and olfactorily.

The careful crafting of fan ribs by artisans and the exquisite presentation of fragrances. Onishi Tsune Shoten's fans beautifully blend tradition and innovation. Please enjoy the unique wind and fragrance of Kyoto fans in your daily life.