Furoshiki: Japan’s Sustainable Wrapping Method

Used for centuries to store and transport items, furoshiki is a special type of traditional Japanese wrapping cloth. Furoshiki cloth is always square-shaped and can be tied in a variety of ways depending on its intended use. The word "furoshiki" is comprised of the kanji for "bath" and "spread," as the cloths were originally used to wrap and carry clothes and other items to and from public baths.

History of Furoshiki in Japan 

Before it was known as furoshiki, cloth wrapping was utilized throughout the Nara period (710 - 794 C.E.) to wrap important goods and treasures. During this time, the cloth was referred to as “tsutsumi”, meaning “package” or “present.” 

During the Heian period (794 - 1185 C.E.), the cloth was known as “koromo usumi” and typically used to wrap clothing.

It wasn’t until the Muromachi period (1136 - 1573 C.E.) that the “furoshiki” name in use today was born. The story begins with a Shogun named Ashikaga Yoshimitsu who often invited feudal lords to use the bathhouse in his residence. Visitors would wrap their clothes in furoshiki in order to distinguish them from the other guests’ belongings. As bathhouses grew in popularity and spread to the lower classes, furuoshiki also began to spread. 

Today's Sustainable Alternative To Gift Wrapping

In recent years, furoshiki has seen a resurgence in popularity as an eco-friendly alternative to traditional wrapping. Many people are turning to furoshiki as a way to reduce their use of plastic bags and other disposable packaging materials. It is common for children and adults to wrap lunch bentos in furoshiki and for gift-givers to use furoshiki as gift wrapping. (Learn more about the importance of Gift Giving in Japan)

Furoshiki come in a variety of designs and sizes for all tastes and needs. Cloth is commonly used for heavy items such as books and glass bottles, while silk is a good choice for decorative wrapping. Nowadays, there are even hemp furoshiki manufactured with sustainability in mind! 

Versatile and practical, furoshiki is a timeless tradition in Japan, and one that is gaining popularity around the world as a thoughtful and beautiful way to present objects. 

About the author:

Britney Budiman

Britney Budiman (@booritney) is a writer, minimalist, aspiring effective altruist, and runner-in-progress with a penchant for saying “yes.” Previously, she has worked in Cambodia at a traditional arts NGO, in Brazil as a social sciences researcher, and in San Francisco at a housing start-up. She currently lives in the countryside of Kagoshima, Japan, where she teaches English. Her favorite thing in the world is good conversation.