The idea of this practice

[Morten]

In The Last Samurai movie, we see Ujio using a fan to perform a rite before the last battle.

Any insights/information I can find about this rite?
Or at least the usage of a fan as a samurai practice.

Thanks.

 

[Toritoribe]

It's not a rite but a dance called Kōwakamai.

The tale "Atsumori" is particularly well known because of its depiction of Oda Nobunaga. Before Oda departs for the Battle of Okehazama, he does a choreographed dance and recites the famous lines, "Although a man may be alive on earth for fifty years, in heaven those fifty years are but an instant--a dream."

Kōwakamai - Wikipedia

The fan is sensu, and it has nothing to do with samurai practice. It's used also in noh/nō.

 

[Morten]

Thank you for the answer!

 

[Mike Cash]

Also commonly used in nihon buyou (dance) and rakugo (story telling).

Their most common use is ladies fanning themselves when it is hot.