Traditional Japanese wrapping cloth: Furoshiki

Furoshiki is a Japanese cloth used for wrapping objects such as books, clothes, food, small box, watermelon, etc. Various sizes, fabrics and designs are available.

The sizes can range from hand-sized to larger than bed sheet. The most common sizes are 45 cm (17.7 ins) and 68-72 cm (26.7-28.3 ins).

They are mainly made of cotton, silk, rayon, chirimen and nylon, decorated with traditional Japanese designs, wavy patterns, or by shibori.

The Japanese used to wrap and carry goods in hirazutsumi (a flat folded bundle) during the Heian period (794-1185 AD).

The Furoshiki, its modern version, is said to be first used in the Muromachi Period (1392-1573). The merchants of those days often used furoshiki to carry their wares to the market.

The wrapping cloth was named ‘Furoshiki’ which means ‘bath cloth’ because people used it to carry their personal effects to and from the public bath.

The furoshiki is both utilitarian and beautiful. In addition, it is eco-friendly. This wrapping cloth is now a popular alternative to plastic shopping bags. Although cotton and silk furoshiki are still the most common, synthetic fabrics furoshiki are gaining popularity due to its durability and ease of cleaning.

There are various ways to wrap a furoshiki, involving a few simple knots. For the most basic method, the first knot will be formed by taking the opposite corners of the cloth and tie a knot over the item to be wrapped. Another knot will be created by tying the other two corners.

This will result in a lovely knotted bow with a solid handle of knots to carry. The knots and the movement of silky fabric complement the shape of the wrapped article.

Some furoshiki stores in Japan provide free demonstrations on the wrapping and knotting techniques. Furoshiki cloth can still be used as a table cloth even if you cannot master the different knotting techniques.

In March 2006, the Japanese Environment Minister Yuriko Koike designed the “Mottainai Furoshiki”. It served as a symbol of Japanese culture of waste reduction, as the word “Mottainai” in Japanese means “it is a shame for something to go to waste without having made use of its potential in full”.

The furoshiki was made from a fiber that was created by recycling PET bottles. It was decorated with a motif of birds and flowers, which was drawn by a mid-Edo era’s painter, Itoh Jakuchu.

The Mottainai Furoshiki was introduced to the participants at the Senior Officials Meeting on the 3R Initiative hosted by Japan in March 2006.

In a waste reduction campaign, the Mottainiai Furoshiki was also presented to the Japanese National Olympic Team’s athletes for the 20^th Olympic Winter Games held in Turin (Torino), Italy, in February 2006.

With the Olympic athletes using the furoshiki, the Japanese Ministry of Environment hopes to convey world-wide the message that the Mottainai spirit in Japanese culture contributes to a sustainable society.

With a little creativity, the ways that furoshiki can be used are endless. Below is just some of the common usage of the wrapping cloth:

· for carrying lunch box to work

· for wrapping a present

· for decorating a gift item

· for wrapping a wine bottle

· for separating the interior of the luggage case

· for decorating the wardrobe

· for decorating the pillows or cushions or other furniture

· as a handbag or purse

· as a grocery shopping bag, with handles or decorative bamboo rings

· as a tablecloth

· as a floor mat

· as wall decoration

· as an artistic interior in the room

· as a fashion accessory, e.g. scarf

· as a baby blanket

Furoshiki is light-weight, unbreakable, multi-functional, reusable, and moderately-priced. Being eco-friendly, it helps to reduce the impact to our environment.

It can be used to wrap almost anything, even heavy objects such as flower pot, volley ball and television set. There is always a wide variety of sizes and designs to suit your lifestyle.

A lifestyle based on the 3Rs (reduction, reuse and recycling of waste) is truly necessary in environmental conservation. It is time for the traditional Japanese wrapping cloth to flourish again.

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