Kamifūsen
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The term refers to several types of paper
balloons A balloon is a flexible membrane bag that can be inflated with a gas, such as helium, hydrogen, nitrous oxide, oxygen, or air. For special purposes, balloons can be filled with smoke, liquid water, granular media (e.g. sand, flour or rice), ...
in Japanese culture. They are simple toys for children, advertising give-aways for traditional medicine companies, and illuminated flying balloons at festivals. Smaller kamifūsen are popular as traditional children's toys in
Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...
. These have an open hole, and reinflate as they are bounced in play. The balloon is made of glassine paper known as
washi is traditional Japanese paper processed by hand using fibers from the inner bark of the gampi tree, the mitsumata shrub (''Edgeworthia chrysantha''), or the paper mulberry (''kōzo'') bush. ''Washi'' is generally tougher than ordinary ...
, which is air-resistant, glossy and thin, and which has sufficient plasticity to allow it to be formed into a new shape, which it can then retain. The properties of these paper balloon toys are of interest to scientists. Traditionally, kamifūsen were sold in
dagashiya ''Dagashi'' (Japanese language, Japanese: 駄菓子), in Japan, refers to cheap Candy, candies and snack foods. ''Dagashi'' are comparable to American penny candy. The word ''dagashi'' is derived from the Japanese words ''da'' ("futile" or "negl ...
, small shops selling candy, snacks and inexpensive toys to schoolchildren as an alternative to the more expensive rubber balloon. They are now sold in souvenir shops and online. Another variation, known as the is in the shape of a cube rather than a sphere, and is associated with the marketing campaigns of traditional medicine companies. Much larger kamifūsen, resembling sky lanterns, are flown each year at the in
Semboku, Akita 270px, Kakunodate is a city located in Akita Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 24,045 in 10,398 households, and a population density of 22 persons per km2. The total area of the city is . Geography Semboku is locat ...
.


Physics

Toy kamifūsen display some counterintuitive properties that have been studied by scientists. Even though they have an open hole, they tend to inflate rather than deflating when bounced up by a person's hands. According to Ichiro Fukumori of the
Jet Propulsion Laboratory The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is a Federally funded research and development centers, federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) in La Cañada Flintridge, California, Crescenta Valley, United States. Founded in 1936 by Cali ...
, "Despite the open hole visible in the silver patch, the kamifūsen stays inflated when bounced on the palm of one’s hand. Moreover, repeated bouncing causes a deflated kamifūsen to swell by itself to its fully inflated condition. The elastic rebound of the balloon paper is not enough to explain the full inflation; a batted kamifūsen actually sucks in air from the atmosphere."


Variations

Some kamifūsen intended for decoration are made in the shapes of animals, birds and fruits. A kakufūsen (角風船) (kaku means "angled") is a paper balloon in the shape of a cube rather than a sphere, often used for commercial marketing purposes. Door-to-door salesmen called from the traditional medicine companies of
Toyama Toyama may refer to: Places * Toyama Prefecture, a prefecture of Japan located in the Hokuriku region on the main Honshu island * Toyama (city), the capital city of Toyama Prefecture * Toyama Station, the main station of Toyama, Toyama * Toyama Sta ...
used to give out kakufūsen printed with drug company advertising. Small chests filled with various medicines and bandages were left at no initial cost with customers, and the salesman would return from time to time, to restock the cabinet and collect payment. This system of "use first, pay later" marketing of medicines is called "okigusuri". The is held in
Semboku, Akita 270px, Kakunodate is a city located in Akita Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 24,045 in 10,398 households, and a population density of 22 persons per km2. The total area of the city is . Geography Semboku is locat ...
, on February 10 each year. Hundreds of very large hot-air kamifūsen, resembling sky lanterns, are flown for good luck in the coming year. The festival has mythical origins, and was suspended during World War II. It was revived in 1974. According to tradition, Hiraka Gennai (1728–1780), a scientist in the
Edo era The , also known as the , is the period between 1600 or 1603 and 1868 in the history of Japan, when the country was under the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate and some 300 regional ''daimyo'', or feudal lords. Emerging from the chaos of the Sengok ...
, introduced paper balloons as markers for the copper mines in the mountains of the region, and also as entertainment.


In Japanese culture

Two major Japanese films have featured kamifūsen in their titles. is an acclaimed 1937 drama film, and is a 1981 comedy.


See also

*
Fu-Go balloon bomb was an deployed by Japan against the United States during World War II. It consisted of a hydrogen-filled paper balloon in diameter, with a payload of four Incendiary device, incendiary devices and one high-explosive Anti-personnel weapon, ...
*
Paper lantern A paper lantern is a lantern made of thin, brightly colored paper. Paper lanterns come in various shapes and sizes, as well as various methods of construction. In their simplest form, they are simply a paper bag with a candle placed inside, alt ...
*
Sky lantern A sky lantern (), also known as Kǒngmíng lantern (), or Chinese lantern, is a small balloon made of paper, with an opening at the bottom where a small fire is suspended. Sky lanterns have been made for centuries in cultures around the worl ...


References


Further reading


External links


Base Camp Math: How to Inflate a Paper Kamifusen Balloon:Tadashi Tokieda, Professor of Mathematics at Stanford University, illustrates and explains how a toy paper ball can be inflated without being blown up. (video)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kamifusen Balloons Novelty items Paper toys Inflatable manufactured goods Traditional toys Japanese crafts