What are these fabric squares that I bought in Tokyo?

March 6, 2016 5:24 PM

I bought printed hemmed fabric squares in Japan that I thought were furoshiki, the gift-wrapping fabrics. But they feel too stiff and seem too small for this purpose. What are they really? Tea towels, maybe? (Links to photos in the "more inside")

On my vacation to Tokyo a few years ago, I bought three fabric squares from some random shop in the city (not a craft or sewing shop).

At the time, I thought they were furoshiki, the fabric for wrapping gifts. But then I read more about that gift wrapping tradition, and this fabric seemed too stiff for it.

Each square is 20"w x 19.5"h (not exact squares but close enough) with a hemmed edge and a print on one side.

Photo of the three squares

Close-up photo of one square's label/washing instructions

What are these? Did I buy tea towels? The texture does remind me of souvenir tea towels, the stiff sort that don't feel absorbent at all. Or are they really furoshiki?

posted by cadge to Travel & Transportation (4 answers total)

The label mentions Kamawanu, and googling that turns up:

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/japan/tokyo/shopping/arts-crafts/kamawanu:

Kamawanu specialises in tenugui: dyed rectangular cloths of thin cotton, which can be used as tea towels, kerchiefs or gift wrap (the list goes on; they’re surprisingly versatile). There are over 200 different patterns available here, with motifs from traditional to modern. Turn down the little street to the right of the post office, and you’ll find it in a traditional building. There’s also a branch in the Ukiyo-e Ōta Museum of Art.

posted by spacewrench at 5:35 PM on March 6, 2016

Fukusa, maybe? For Japanese tea ceremony.
posted by ainsley at 5:36 PM on March 6, 2016

You're right, spacewrench - Googling around brought me to the Kamawanu website, which has the same logo that's on the fabric's label!

Are these tenugui, then? They're square, though, and not the long rectangle I keep seeing when I look up the term.

ps. I love you, Ask MeFi! These have been sitting in my house being all mysterious for years!
posted by cadge at 5:55 PM on March 6, 2016

They are furoshiki, but the small ones (around 50cm/ side) people use to wrap their bento. Examples: at Bento & Co, at Casabento.

It doesn't mean that you can't fold them in half and wear them as bandannas, but the straight use is as combination lunch wrap/ personal tablecloth.
posted by sukeban at 11:13 PM on March 6, 2016