1. News Update
12 September 2013

3. Furoshiki
風
呂
敷

4. Wrapping Culture
● tsutsumu 包む (つつむ)
● wrapping (e.g., of gifts) implies respect
● tsutsushimu 慎む (つつしむ) means to be
prudent, suppress one’s feelings

5. Origin and History
Furoshiki is from
furo shiki
“bath” “spreading/covering”

6. Origin and History
● Started in Nara Period, to keep Emperor’s
valuables
● First known as hirazutsumi (平包), ‘flat
folded bundles’
● In Edo Period, to bundle clothes at public
furo (お風呂)
● Eventually, used by merchants to carry
goods
● Not unique to Japan (Cf. bojagi)

7. Modern Use
● made of silk, cotton, chirimen, rayon, nylon
● common sizes are 45 cm and 68-72 cm
● used to wrap bento or as table mat

8. Modern Use
● 6 March 2006, Minister Yuriko Koike
introduced ‘mottainai furoshiki’
● made of fiber from recycled
PET bottles
● motif from Itoh Jukuchu
paintings

9. DIY Furoshiki
For practical use

10. DIY Furoshiki
For fashion

11. References
● http://www.nicjapanese.com/english/e-cul-furoshiki.html
● http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Furoshiki
● http://www.env.go.jp/en/focus/060403.html
● http://www.env.go.jp/en/focus/attach/060403-5.html