he term kamifūsen (紙風船, literally: “paper balloon”) refers to several types of paper balloons in Japanese culture.
Smaller kamifūsen are popular as traditional children’s toys in Japan. These have an open hole, and reinflate as they are bounced in play. The balloon is made of glassine paper known as washi, 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, small shops selling candy, snacks and inexpensive toys to schoolchildren as an alternative to the more expensive rubber balloon.