When you open up a sensu (folding fan), or ogi as they are also known, a unique little world opens up in front of you.
Sensu, which have come to be one of the traditional items most often associated with Japanese culture, come in a variety of different motifs and colors printed on washi.
Sensu are not just to cool one down on a hot summer day; they are also a pleasure to look at. Many of the decorative patterns on the fans are taken from nature and include pictures such as cherry orchards, pine trees or butterflies. It's also quite common to find depictions of scenes and characters from different periods in Japanese history; for example, a Heian Period woman.