Hand fan

The name or term "Fan" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Fan (disambiguation).

A hand fan is a tool to keep cool, flaunt like a jewel, and, though not to be cruel, slap a fool.

Hand fans are broad and thin objects primarily meant to direct air flow. In a pinch any sheet or leaf will do, but a society interested in the technique sooner rather than later develops dedicated tools. They allow people to keep themselves cool on hot days and regulate heat and smoke when grilling. Alternatively, hand fans constructed with regard for aesthetics make for a good fashion accessory and as items that aren't too sturdy, they're also suitable for a corrective whack.

Fiction

Generation 1 cartoon continuity

The Transformers cartoon

In the days of the ancient empress, fans were an accessory of standing among the Zamojin as both the empress and the sky-dancer Nijika owned gold-colored and decorated fans that were part of their ensemble. Nijika would've taken her fan with her among the stars but a Quintesson damaged her beyond function before she could start her journey. Her broken body and its accessories were stored away by her creator and inherited by his descendant, who "repaired" Nijika with Perceptor's machinery. For as long as it lasted, Perceptor readily took to his new body and the fan that came with it, handling it as if he'd never done else. The Face of the Nijika

Legends comic

Windblade was created by the Zamojin in the likeness of Nijika. She got the same clothes as her predecessor and also a gold-colored hand fan to wear in her hair if she didn't care to hold it. LG12 Windblade

Beast Wars II cartoon

BB shot several missiles around in the Predacon lake fortress in an attempt to hit some Maximals. For his efforts, Starscream whacked him with a harisen because he could've easily destroyed the underwater base. The Lake Trap Starscream more unreasonably hit BB again with a harisen for a thoughtless remark Dirge made as he happened to stand next to BB. Autorollers Roll Out!

To lure the Maximals into a trap, Dirge and Thrust had to generate a lot of smoke so that it would look like the Predacons were harvesting Angolmois Energy again. To create this smoke, they burned charcoal and used uchiwa to control the heat and direct the smoke. A Fearsome Combination Plan?

To encourage the Maximals' transport of the Niagara Cannon and secretly draw the Predacons attention away from the real cannon, Apache formed a one-man cheering squad and danced with sensu in each hand. Knock Out Nemesis

Comedy Beast Wars

Cheetor transformed into the singer Kiyoko Suizenji. While holding a sensu with the song title 大勝負 written on it, he sang said song. Cheetor, Beast Mode!!

Beast Wars II preview comic

Thrust slapped Dirge with a harisen to demonstrate that the comic to be published starting next month would contain comedy.

Transformers Go! Go!

Optimus Prime and Wheeljack partook in the Tanabata festival. They were dressed in traditional Japanese attire for the occasion and Wheeljack brought a uchiwa with おーてぼって written on it. Go! Go! #29

Energon cartoon

Bulkhead bothered an Autobot nurse. When she called him out for his behavior, he held up a sensu in cheer. Decepticon Army

Games

DreamMix TV World Fighters

The baseball playing Power Pro-kun took part in the World Fighters tournament against such opponents as Optimus Prime and Megatron. Instead of a bat, he wielded a harisen. DreamMix TV World Fighters

Toys

Generations

A case of fanning the planes.

• Windblade (Deluxe Class, 2014)

Generations Windblade came with a clear yellow tessen as headdress.

Combiner Wars

• Combiner Hunters (Multi-pack, July 9, 2015)

Combiner Wars Windblade came with a clear orange tessen as headdress.

Legends

• Windblade (February 14, 2015)

Legends Windblade came with a clear yellow tessen as headdress.

Titans Return

• Titan Force (Multi-pack, July 21, 2016)

Titans Return Windblade came with a red tessen as headdress.

Robots in Disguise (2015)

• Windblade (September 24, 2016)

Robots in Disguise Windblade came with a yellow-on-red tessen as headdress.

• Windblade (2017)

Robots in Disguise "Combiner Force" Windblade came with a blue-on-red tessen as headdress.

Legacy

• Windblade (2024)

Legacy: United Windblade came with a yellow tessen as headdress.

Merchandise

Transformers: Kindergarten Series

If Windblade has no fans, someone cut off both her hands. And head.

• Windblade (2023)

A figurine of Windblade was available as part of Transformers: Kindergarten Series. She is depicted wielding two pink and white hand fans with a floral design.

Notes

• Whereas in English culturally and linguistically little difference is made between one fan and the other, Japan has a more intensive history with the tool and therefore does differentiate between various types.
  • Foremost, Japanese separates fans (扇 ōgi) into non-folding fans (団扇 uchiwa) and folding fans (扇子 sensu).
  • Harisen are a type of folding paper fan traditionally used in manzai by the tsukkomi to punish the boke for their idiocy with a good whack.
  • Tessen are metal fans designed for combat. They're not the only war fans in Japanese history, but they're the most well-known. They're typically kept folded to attack and are unfolded to defend.
• Theoretically, Windblade always has a tessen with her because one is part of her headdress. However, there isn't much fiction that depicts it as detachable and not all toys have it as a detachable component.
• One model sheet for the Beast Wars II cartoon features Artemis holding a hilted harisen. In the cartoon itself, she wields a piko piko hammer, which like the harisen is a standard joke weapon in Japan. This suggests that it is either an alternative or additional weapon considered for her during development of Beast Wars II.

External links

• Hand fan on Wikipedia