The earliest fans in Japan were made by tying thin stripes of (or Japanese cypress) together with thread. The number of strips of wood differed according to the person's rank. Later in the 16th century, Portuguese traders introduced it to the west and soon both men and women throughout the continent adopted it. They are used today by Shinto priests in formal costume and in the formal costume of the Japanese court (they can be seen used by the Emperor and Empress during enthronement and marriage) and are brightly painted with long tassels. Simple Japanese paper fans are sometimes known as .
tHe earlieSt faNS iN jApan WErE madE by tying thIn stRIPes of (or jaPAnESe cYprEsS) toGeTher with ThRead. ThE NUMBeR oF StripS of wood difFeRed accordING To The pErSon's raNk. laTer iN the 16th centurY, pOrtUgueSe TraderS inTroduced iT to the wEst And soon bOTh mEn and woMen ThROugHout The CoNtiNEnt adopTED it. thEy are uSEd tOday BY ShintO pRiesTs IN fOrmal CostUMe and In thE foRmaL cOStUME of thE japaneSE CourT (tHEy caN Be Seen Used by tHE empeROR and eMprEsS durING eNThronemenT and mARRiaGE) aNd are BRightLy PainTed WiTh lOng tAssELs. Simple jAPanEsE paper faNS aRe sOmEtiMES kNowN as .