Edo-sensu

Tokyo-style folding fans, crafted by a single artisan from start to finish.

Edo-sensu (Edo folding fans) are crafted in Tokyo in a distinctly different tradition from Kyoto fans. While Kyo-sensu production involves extensive division of labor, Edo-sensu are characteristically made by a single artisan from start to finish, resulting in a more personal, bold aesthetic. They tend to use fewer bamboo ribs (15 compared to Kyo-sensu's 25–35), creating a wider, more robust fan suited to the forthright Edokko temperament. The designs often reflect the lively ukiyo-e aesthetic of Edo-period popular culture.