One of the essential items for getting through Japan’s hot and humid summer is an uchiwa, or paper fan. With its large surface area and long handle, you can work up more of a breeze with an uchiwa than a dainty folding fan.
Unfortunately, you might work up a bit of a sweat as you furiously fan yourself, which kind of negates the whole purpose of using a fan to begin with. Thankfully, there’s now a way to get around all that manual labor with a USB-powered uchiwa.
The fan itself in manufacturer Thanko’s USB uchiwa kit is nothing special. What justifies its 3,980-yem (US$39) price tag, though, is the apparatus it’s attached to.
Simply plug the contraption into your USB port, and sit back to enjoy a nice, relaxing breeze.
As the video above shows, there are two speed settings, with the stronger capable of producing some pretty impressive gusts. The range of the fanning motion can also be adjusted, as can the height the fan stands at.
There are a couple downsides to this technological luxury, though. First, while we’re sure the wind it produces feels soothing to your skin and soul, when the machine is in motion, it’s a little on the loud side.
▼ This woman must be one heavy sleeper.
Second, the kit doesn’t come pre-assembled.
This isn’t such a big problem, though, as the manufacturer has posted an instructional video that walks you through the steps.
▼ Thanks, Thanko!
As long as those two sticking points don’t bother you, you can place your pre-order for the USB uchiwa kit right here. It’s the perfect gift for anyone who wants a touch of traditional Japanese culture, doesn’t like the chilled air spat out by air conditioning units, or just wants to remind the machines that they’re still subservient to their human masters.
Images: Thanko
[ Read in Japanese ]
Create a Breeze and Beat the Heat with These Uchiwa
Beat the heat in the smelliest arena with clip-on armpit fans from Japan!
Japanese Electronics Company Releases Camera Glasses for Under US$100
Stamina-destroying “Paralysis Noodles” are Tokyo’s newest over-the-top ramen innovation
What’s inside the McDonald’s Japan fukubukuro lucky bag for 2026?
Japanese company selling bear-proof automatic doors
Uniqlo Ukiyo-e Blue T-shirts: A cool-hued reinterpretation of some of Japan’s greatest paintings
Osaka teen arrested for hacking into Internet cafe’s app to steal data, was helped by Chat-GPT
The 10 best day trips from downtown Tokyo【Survey】
Japan’s Self-Defense Forces take “radio calisthenics” to an interesting new level
We drank crab-juice infused Crab Cola from Niigata Prefecture, because why not
Family: Utah man was cosplaying Samurai Champloo when shot, killed by police
10 Japanese expressions that sound delightfully strange and funny when translated
Nintendo’s Kirby now delivering orders at Kura Sushi restaurants, but not in Japan
Japan considering raising international traveler departure tax even more than previously reported
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting tourist crowds in Shibuya’s Don Quijote?
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting tourist crowd sizes in Nara?
China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning seems to be affecting Osaka’s Namba and Dotonbori neighborhoods
Japanese town suing resident for being a jerk
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
You can now buy a Japanese train station clock in Japan
Japanese police attempting to clamp down on “zombie cigarettes”
Tokyo’s Ueno Station has an unmanned noodle restaurant on its platform, and its no-joke good
Starbucks Japan unveils new Christmas goods and a rhinestone tumbler that costs 19,500 yen
Real-world Nausicaa Ghibli anime glider completes its final flight in Japan【Video】
Brand-new Pokémon park opens in Japan with larger-than-life-size Lapras【Photos】
Japanese train company is letting fans buy its actual ticket gates for their homes
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting tourist crowds in Tokyo’s Asakusa neighborhood?
Naturally brown-haired Osaka student sues government for forcing her to dye her hair black
Japanese government considering tripling departure taxes to combat overtourism
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s deadliest food claims more victims, but why do people keep eating it for New Year’s?
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
The top 10 annoying foreign tourist behaviors on trains, as chosen by Japanese people【Survey】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Starbucks Japan reveals new sakura drinkware collection, inspired by evening cherry blossoms
Leave a Reply