TOKYO - Handheld fans have become a summer essential in Japan, but a rise in accidents involving hair becoming caught in the devices is prompting warnings over injuries, potential legal liability and fires caused by lithium-ion batteries.
Reports submitted to the Consumer Affairs Agency include a case in which a person standing near someone using a handheld fan on a crowded train had their hair sucked into the device and pulled.
Similar incidents have also occurred when users bring the fans close to their own faces. One first-year high school student said their hair became caught after moving a fan too close because of the intense heat, while a third-year student said their wet bangs became entangled while they were trying to dry them after sweating.
The problem stems from how conventional fans operate. While rotating blades push air forward to create a cooling breeze, air is simultaneously drawn into the device through openings at the rear and sides.
As a result, while the user faces the outgoing airflow, the intake side of the fan may be directed toward people nearby. The stronger the fan setting, the greater the suction force and the risk of pulling in loose hair.
If hair becomes caught, users are advised first to switch off the power, remove the protective cover and carefully disentangle the hair. In some cases, however, the hair cannot be removed and has had to be cut.
Accidents involving another person's hair can also lead to legal consequences.
According to attorney Takashi Saida of Verybest Law Offices, a person who causes another person's hair to become caught in a handheld fan could face a compensation claim of several tens of thousands of yen to around 100,000 yen.
If the hair is pulled strongly enough to cause an injury to the scalp, the user could potentially be charged with negligent bodily injury even if the harm was unintentional.
One way to reduce the risk is to avoid using handheld fans in crowded places and to limit the amount of time they are operated.
Users can also cool themselves more efficiently by placing a damp towel around the neck and directing the fan toward it. Those who prefer not to wear a towel can wipe the neck and arms with a body sheet before using the fan to increase the cooling sensation.
Fire is another concern.
A fire at an office in Tokyo was traced to a handheld fan that had been charging on a desk. The lithium-ion battery built into the device caught fire, leaving walls and furniture heavily scorched.
Fires involving lithium-ion batteries have also been increasing in devices such as mobile batteries. The Tokyo Fire Department recorded 179 fires believed to have been caused by lithium-ion batteries from January through May 2026, the highest number ever recorded for the same five-month period.
The incidents have also raised questions over whether manufacturers should introduce additional safety measures, including systems that automatically stop a fan when hair or foreign objects become entangled, as well as wider adoption of bladeless handheld fans.
Keio University professor Makiko Nakamuro said the fact that the Consumer Affairs Agency has issued warnings over this type of accident suggests that a substantial number of cases may be occurring.
She said basic consideration for others remains important, including refraining from using handheld fans on crowded trains or near people with long hair.
As handheld fans become increasingly common during Japan's hot summers, users are being urged to balance the convenience of personal cooling with greater awareness of the people around them and the safety risks posed by the devices.
Source: TBS
