DIY Japanese Fans for Girls' Day (Hinamatsuri)

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Make these cute Japanese fans with your kids in honor of Girls’ Day. I’ve included a free printable guide to make this an easy craft!

Girls’ Day, or Hinamatsuri, is a Japanese holiday honoring girls and is observed every year on March 3rd.

These Japanese fans are a cute and easy craft to celebrate Girls’ Day. I’ve included a free printable, so all you need to do is color, cut, fold and tape!

Fun Facts About Hinamatsuri:

Hinamatsuri is a Japanese festival celebrating girls.
Although it’s a national holiday, families without young girls may not celebrate it.
Parents pray for the happiness and health of their daughters.
Intricate Hina Ningyo dolls are displayed in homes.
Special foods, such as amazake (sweet drink made from fermented rice), Hina arare (sweet rice crackers), and Chirashizushi (a type of sushi) are eaten during parties leading up to this day.

Celebrating Girls’ Day in Hawai’i

Girl’s Day has made it’s way into local Hawaiian culture because of the large Japanese and Okinawan populations that live there. However, it’s celebrated a little differently.

Mochi is traditionally eaten on this day, and girls (and women) get special treatment. When I was in school, the boys would have to put up the girls’ chairs at the end of the day. Men will often treat their female friends or coworkers to lunch, or offer other kind gestures. Girls usually receive small gifts or money from their families.

Japanese Kimono Dolls Miniature

Includes six kimono doll ornaments with fine details.
This is a great gift to give for Hinamatsuri (Girls Day).

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How do you make the Japanese Fans?

Materials:

Step 1: Color both sheets. I used pink, green and white because they are traditional Hinamatsuri colors, but you can use any colors you’d like! (Pink represents peach blossoms and other flowers, green represents the earth, longevity and good health, and the white represents purity and snow.)

Step 2: Cut both sheets on the dotted line to remove the bottom portion.

Step 3: Make accordion folds on the larger paper (with flowers on it) by folding a small section, then flipping the paper over and folding it again (see pictures below). Repeat this process until the entire paper is folded, then repeat it with the second paper. Try to keep the folds as small and even as possible.

Step 4: Tape the two “accordions” together by joining the folds at the end of each paper.

Step 5: Create a handle by taking one of the pieces of paper that was trimmed off earlier and wrapping it around the bottom of the “accordion” (as pictured below). Tape the end of the paper strip to anchor it down before wrapping it, and tape it again once the paper is completely wrapped. Be sure to wrap it as tight as possible.