Harisen
Encyclopedia
The harisen is a giant paper fan
, usually made in a closed fashion, It is used in Japan
ese comedy shows as a form of physical comedy
(this is what is usually seen in anime
when a character smacks another on the head with a paper fan).
Fan (implement)
A hand-held fan is an implement used to induce an airflow for the purpose of cooling or refreshing oneself. Any broad, flat surface waved back-and-forth will create a small airflow and therefore can be considered a rudimentary fan...
, usually made in a closed fashion, It is used in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese comedy shows as a form of physical comedy
Physical comedy
Physical comedy, also known as slapstick, is a comedic performance relying mostly on the use of the body to convey humour.Physical comedy, whether conveyed by a pratfall , a silly face, or the action of walking into walls, is a common and rarely subtle form of comedy...
(this is what is usually seen in anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
when a character smacks another on the head with a paper fan).
In popular culture
- The psychopathic character Kazuo Kiriyama is given a harisen in the movie Battle RoyaleBattle Royale (film)is a 2000 Japanese film directed by Kinji Fukasaku based on the novel of the same name. It was written by Kenta Fukasaku and stars Takeshi Kitano. The film aroused international controversy.A sequel, Battle Royale II: Requiem, followed...
. - In the video game Chaos WarsChaos Warsis a tactical role-playing game released by Idea Factory for the PlayStation 2 in Japan on September 21, 2006. Promotional art for the game is by Nishimura Kinu. The game's opening theme Shūtan no Ou to Isekai no Kishi ~The Endia&The Knights~ was done by Sound Horizon...
, the character Shizuku's weapon of choice is a harisen which often uses it to hit the main character in typical comedic fashion. Her special attack is called Harisen Ranbu (張り扇乱舞) or "Harisen Dance". - In the manga and anime series Hayate no Gotoku!, the supporting character and Kansai native Sakuya Aizawa frequently carries a harisen used mostly to smack the title character during their brief manzaiManzaiis a traditional style of stand-up comedy in Japanese culture, which usually involves two performers —a straight man and a funny man —trading jokes at great speed...
exchanges. - Kaname Chidori of the anime Full Metal Panic uses a harisen that she seems to pull out from hammerspaceMagic satchelMagic satchel is a term often used in reference to computer role-playing games. It refers to the use of a character's inventory in the game, which can often contain more items than is physically possible for the character to carry without any visible means to hold or transport them.A similar...
to stop Sousuke Sagara from doing anything that could injure or kill a civilian in Tokyo (at one point, her harisen is seen to be extendable and takes up as much space as a matchbox). - In NarutoNarutois an ongoing Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Masashi Kishimoto. The plot tells the story of Naruto Uzumaki, an adolescent ninja who constantly searches for recognition and aspires to become the Hokage, the ninja in his village who is acknowledged as the leader and the strongest of...
, Temari uses a harisen as her main form of attack. - In the manga Negima!, character Asuna Kagurazaka wields a giant sword-sized harisen that later transforms into an enormous single-edged sword.
- The character Dr. Eto in the series Nodame CantabileNodame Cantabileis a manga by Tomoko Ninomiya. It was serialized in Japan by Kodansha in the magazine Kiss from July 2001 to October 2009 and collected in 23 tankōbon volumes. A two-volume sequel, called Nodame Cantabile: Opera Chapter, which began serialization in the 10 December 2009 issue of Kiss, was released...
is known by the nickname "Harisen" because he uses one to punish his students. - In the manga and anime series Saiyuki a character named Genjyo Sanzo uses a harisen to punish both Son GokuSon GokuSon Goku or Son-Goku may refer to:*Son Goku or Sun Wukong, the main character in Journey to the West*Son Goku , the main character in Dragon Ball media*Son Goku, a lead character in Saiyuki media...
and Sha Gojyo when the two argue for even the smallest of things. - In the video game series Super Smash Bros.Super Smash Bros.Super Smash Bros., known in Japan as , is a fighting game developed by HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. It was released in Japan on January 21, 1999, in North America on April 26, 1999, and in Europe on November 19, 1999. Super Smash Bros. is the first game in the Super...
, a large fan is a usable item. Characters can wield it as a very fast weapon, causing minimal but repeated and nigh-unstoppable damage to enemy characters. - In the video games Tekken 6Tekken 6is a fighting game developed and published by Namco Bandai. It is the eighth game in the Tekken franchise. It was released in Japanese arcades on November 26, 2007 as the first game running on the PlayStation 3-based System 357 arcade board. The game received an update, subtitled Bloodline...
and Tekken 6: Bloodline Rebellion, Asuka Kazama uses a harisen as her item move. - The tenguTenguare a class of supernatural creatures found in Japanese folklore, art, theater, and literature. They are one of the best known yōkai and are sometimes worshipped as Shinto kami...
-karasuKarasuKarasu is a town situated in the western Black Sea coast. It has an overwinter population of around 24,500 which swells substantially in the summer to around 250,000 due to an influx tourists. Its municipal code is 264. Much of its commerce centers around hazelnut farming and tourism...
that attend to the Zashiki-Warashi in the manga and anime series xxxHolic wield harisen, though they generally only attack Kimihiro Watanuki since they believe he's the one that makes her cry. - In the video games Sengoku BasaraSengoku Basarais a series of video games developed and published by Capcom, as well as a bigger media franchise based on it, including two anime series and an animated film...
, Oda NobunagaOda Nobunagawas the initiator of the unification of Japan under the shogunate in the late 16th century, which ruled Japan until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. He was also a major daimyo during the Sengoku period of Japanese history. His opus was continued, completed and finalized by his successors Toyotomi...
's joke weapon is harisen. - In the anime and manga Pandora HeartsPandora Heartsis a manga series by Jun Mochizuki. Originally starting serialization in the shōnen magazine GFantasy published by Square Enix in June 2006. Currently fourteen volumes have been released in Japan. The manga series was licensed for an English language release by Broccoli Books but has been dropped;...
, various characters use non-paper harisen, including Duke Rufus Barma and Lady Cheryl Rainsworth. During one episode, a drunk Lady Sharon Rainsworth makes multiple paper harisen and threatens the other characters with them. - In the video game, manga, and anime Comic PartyComic Party, sometimes abbreviated to ComiPa, is a romantic adventure and dating sim video game by the Japanese game studio Leaf. It was first released on May 28, 1999 for the PC with adult content, but re-released with it removed for the Dreamcast, PC, and PSP...
, Yū Inagawa uses a harisen both for its real purpose (making noise to attract customers) and its comedy purpose (slapping idiots).