What,
exactly, can you do with a square piece of cloth, some
70 x 70 cm in size? Not much, the Westerner replies
with a shrug; use it as a small table cloth perhaps?
The Japanese have a different answer: Wrap and carry
things in it, as a welcome alternative to junk-ugly
plastic bags that accumulate under the kitchen sink.
And, if the material is of high quality and beautifully
decorated, use it to wrap gifts.
This is the thinking behind the Japanese furoshiki (literally:
“bath spread”). Originally used to wrap
clothes in Edo era (1603–1867) bathhouses before
eventually being used by merchants to transport goods
or wrap gifts, the cloths long verged on extinction
in the post-war period thanks to the proliferation of
plastic shopping bags. Now, however, as consumers grow
more environment-conscious, they are making a comeback.
Sales of furoshiki, often made from silk or cotton with
traditional patterns, are rising at Japanese department
stores and women’s magazines regularly feature
articles on how to wrap. |
No,
you don’t just fold and tie a few knots. As with
all things Japanese, there is an art to it, with dozens
of elaborate folding patterns that each has a specific
purpose—wrapping up a book perhaps, or giving
away a bottle of sake. It is also important to choose
the color and design carefully according to season and
occasion. Interestingly, it takes about the same time
for the seasoned user to beautifully wrap a wine bottle
as it takes to put said bottle in a plastic bag.
Even if you still prefer the simplicity of the plastic
bag, why not pick up a furoshiki anyway if you are in
Japan? They do make very beautiful table cloths. |
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Practical
and beautiful; the furoshiki,
here with a wine bottle |
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