Eye-Catching and Instagrammable! DIY Fan Ideas for Sports Day
Uchiwa fans have become a staple item at events like sports days, athletic festivals, and cultural festivals in recent years.
They originally took off as cheering and fan goods for idols, and these days you can get almost all the materials at 100-yen shops, making them easy to DIY!
In this article, we’re sharing handmade uchiwa ideas that are perfect for sports day cheering.
From standard designs to more elaborate ones, we’ve got lots of examples—so chat with your friends or classmates and create standout, photo-worthy cute uchiwa!
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- [Dance Songs] Recommended for school sports days and athletic festivals! A curated selection of popular tracks that are fun to dance to
- Eight types of cheering songs. Cheering songs for different scenes.
- Songs I want to use for a flag dance at a sports day. Recommended songs for a flag dance.
[Eye-Catching and Instagrammable!] Handmade Uchiwa Fan Ideas for Sports Day (21–30)
folding fan
It’s not a uchiwa fan, but a folding fan (sensu) is also a great idea.
Since not many people make them, it could help you stand out.
For an easy option, you can take a store-bought folding fan and add stickers or paper, then decorate it with pipe cleaners or lace.
It’s also appealing because you can easily switch up the style—like Japanese-inspired or 80s bubble era.
Plus, folding fans are compact to carry and make it easy to strike poses, such as hiding part of your face.
There are DIY kits and plain fans available for purchase, so be sure to check them out.
peeling fan
Some of you may be struggling because there are so many designs you want to create.
In that case, let me introduce the cue-card fan.
This involves attaching a binder ring to the fan itself so that you can flip through sheets of paper.
For example, you can flip pages with letter designs to form sentences, or even make it like a flipbook.
The area with the punched hole tears easily, so don’t forget to add reinforcement patches! You can buy them at 100-yen shops and the like.
[Eye-catching and photogenic!] Handmade Uchiwa Fan Ideas You’ll Want to Make for Sports Day (31–40)
heart-shaped
If you want to highlight girly vibes, a heart shape is the way to go! Cut thick paper or a board into parts and attach them to a fan, then decorate it with photos, printed avatars, stickers, and sparkly tinsel to make a glamorous fan that stands out even from a distance.
If you stick on avatars or logos made with the same app, you and your friends can create a unified look.
Why not start enjoying the fun from the fan-making stage before the sports festival, with the message, “Let’s stay best friends forever” in mind?
Photo Name Board
It’s also a great idea to stick a handmade name plate onto a fan.
Print out the name logo you designed in an app, mount it on thick paper, and trim around it.
If you coat it with a laminating film, it will be more durable and look nicer! Decorate the edges of the plate with stickers or lace, then attach it to the fan.
If you stick the logo directly on the fan, it may wrinkle and not adhere well, but if you prepare it separately and laminate it first, you’ll be less likely to have issues when attaching it.
Uniform-themed decorated fan
This is a uniform-themed uchiwa (hand fan) that looks very luxurious even though it’s just fabric layered together! First, attach a base fabric to the fan to resemble a uniform shirt, then layer on pieces for the blazer and shirt collar.
Glue on a ribbon and buttons, and your original uniform-style uchiwa is complete! A “uniform on a fan” idea isn’t something you’d come up with every day, right? Even at sports festivals or athletic meets where many kids bring handmade fans, its cuteness and attention to detail are sure to attract attention!
Simple Transparent Letter Uchiwa
A handmade piece with unbelievable quality! It’s a transparent-letter uchiwa (fan) where the text parts become skeletonized.
Create a design like a logo in an app and print it out.
Be sure to set the logo so it’s white without ink.
Stick a laminating film onto the printed side, rub it firmly with a ruler or similar tool, then submerge it in water as is.
The inked areas will transfer onto the laminate, leaving the text portions transparent—creating a clear-letter design! Stick it onto a plastic sheet or clear file board, attach a handle, and it’s done.
cloth uchiwa (fabric handheld fan)
When you think of uchiwa fans, ones made of paper are the most common.
If you make an original fan using fabric, you’ll get a more refined, luxurious finish! Cut a felt base slightly larger than the fan, and attach it to the fan with a hot glue gun.
It’s also a great idea to layer lace or add ribbons on top of the felt to your liking.
Once the base is ready, layer fabric cut into a name or logo shape on top, decorate with ribbons, and you’re done!