[For Seniors] Exciting! A Collection of Game Ideas Using Uchiwa (Japanese Hand Fans)
Uchiwa fans are an essential item for easing the summer heat.
They’re especially familiar to older adults who have used them for many years.
These days, air conditioners and electric fans are common, so we might use uchiwa less often, but if one is nearby, you can’t help wanting to use it.
Uchiwa don’t just provide a cool breeze—they can also be used to play fun games with a few simple ideas.
This time, we’ll introduce some easy games that use uchiwa.
Besides uchiwa, these ideas use everyday items like balloons, newspaper, and plastic bottles, so if you’re a care worker looking for summer recreation ideas, please use this as a reference.
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- [For Seniors] Enjoy the Cold Winter! Seated Activities You Can Do
- [For Seniors] Enjoy Summer to the Fullest! Fun Summer-Only Activities Introduced
- Fun Recreational Activities for Seniors Using Newspapers!
- [For Seniors] Fun Autumn Activities: Recreation Games
- [For Seniors] Let’s Start a Fun Craft Activity
- [For Seniors] Today’s Recommended Activity: Fun and Engaging
[For Seniors] Exciting! A Roundup of Game Ideas Using Uchiwa Fans (21–30)
Wobbly Paper Cup Game
This is a simple game using paper cups and a fan (uchiwa).
Line up several paper cups in front of you and fan them forward to make them fall.
Cups that fall to the sides or toward you don’t count for points.
If you place a basket or similar container in front, you can immediately see how many cups fell forward and scored.
It’s a foul to touch the cups directly with the fan to knock them forward.
Also, when fanning, be careful not to touch the table.
The light, unpredictable movement of the paper cups is part of the fun!
Fluttering a vinyl sheet away with a hand fan
We’ll introduce a fun seated game using a fan: fluttering a plastic bag with a uchiwa.
Prepare a uchiwa (hand fan), a milk carton, beanbags, and a plastic bag, and let’s enjoy the game.
Put a beanbag inside the milk carton to give it stability so it won’t tip over.
Once you place the plastic bag over the top, the game begins.
Use the uchiwa to fan and knock the plastic bag off.
The first person to get it off wins.
It’s exciting even with a small group.
Once you get the hang of it, set a time limit to add a thrilling, suspenseful twist.
Balloon Tennis
How about trying “balloon tennis,” using a paper fan as a racket and a balloon as the ball? You can even pretend the table is a court.
Don’t just hit the balloon back to your opponent—get creative by fanning the balloon with the paper fan to play defense, too.
It’s sure to turn into a thrilling game!
Paper cup blowing game with a uchiwa (hand fan)
This is a game where you flap a fan to move paper cups.
Split into two teams and sit facing each other.
Line up paper cups in a row at the center of the table.
At the start signal, flap to push the cups into the opponent’s side.
The team that gets more cups into the opponent’s territory wins.
There aren’t any complicated rules, but touching the cups directly with a fan or your hands is not allowed.
Uchiwa Battle
This is an easy, exciting tabletop game you can play using handheld fans (uchiwa).
Place lightweight items that wobble when fanned—something that stands on its own but is light, like paper cups—on the table.
At the start signal, flap your fan to blow the items toward your opponent’s side or off the table on their side.
Compete to see who can move or knock off more items toward the opponent.
You don’t have to play one-on-one; multiple players can join, and you can also play solo by seeing how many items you can knock off or how quickly you can do it.
Escape from the Balloon Tower
For older adults, seasonal events are very important.
Among them, the spring and autumn sports festivals are great opportunities to show what you can do.
They’re especially recommended for seniors who enjoy being active.
The balloon tower escape game we’re introducing this time involves building a tower with cable ties, placing balloons inside, and using fans to waft the balloons out of the tower.
Four teams compete.
Since you fan with full force, it seems likely to strengthen the muscles in your hands and arms.
It’s a very exciting game where you time the attempts and the fastest team wins.
Uchiwa Balloon Relay
This is a relay-style game where players move while keeping a balloon bouncing with a handheld fan (uchiwa), go to a target point, and come back.
Competing in teams helps build strong focus on the balloon and good movement speed.
If you skillfully incorporate a forward flick with the fan, you can gain speed, but quick forward movement is also required, so good judgment is key.
If keeping the balloon bouncing while moving is too hard, another recommended rule is to keep the balloon resting on the fan as you go.
By alternating your gaze between the balloon in your hand and the direction of travel, you can also sharpen your visual focus.
