Tenugui comes from the word “Ta-Nogohi” which was part of the vocabulary during the Heian Era (794 to 1185). Based on this, Tenugui refers to wiping, or the act of wiping.  It was used in public baths and became so popular that new methods of dyeing were invented just for the Tenugui.

During the Showa Era (1926 to 1989), modern dyeing technology created a renewed interest in the cloth. This is because new colors were introduced that were vibrant and rich. Aside from this, designs using stencils were adapted on the cloth. These wash cloths were also used as a form of business cards and gift item.

Today, it is more known as a piece of cloth or towel. There is an existing project to keep this traditional cloth very much a part of Japanese culture. It tries to instill the importance of maintaining a close tie with tradition, instead of adopting all new technology. This last dyeing process is something many Japanese from the older generation consider as “the last stand.” The Japanese youth tend to disregard tradition and think of objects like the Tenugui as old-fashion and useless.

The Tenugui is just one of the Japanese traditions that are threatened to disappear because of technology. It is not longer considered a fashion accessory. Instead, it has become part of Japanese old school and costume. One sport that has continued to use this face cloth for their sport is Japanese fencing or Kendo. You will see those in the art of Kendo wipe their face and hands often, using the Tenugui.

Over the years, the Tenugui has adapted to the era. During the EDO Period, it came from cotton rolls and were fairly large in size. This changed to other materials like silk or combination of different fabrics. The weave was also significant in determining use. Fine weave meant that the Tenugui was for creating new craft, while the loose weaves was used as fabric for towels.

The one item that makes a Japanese gift unique is that it tries not to use paper. Traditionally, Japanese use fabric and this has become even more pronounced lately with the Japanese government encouraging its citizens to return to this ancient tradition.

The Japanese term for gift-wrapping with fabric is called Furoshiki. There is another method which uses both Japanese paper and fabric called tsutsumi. Both are ideal for all occasions.

Another interested Japanese word to know with regards to gift-wrapping is Origata. This is wrapping a gift without cutting paper. Interestingly, Japanese do not wrap a gift for the purpose of hiding the gift. It is really a gentle art of concealment. In other words, they want the gift to “peek” out of the wrapper as a sort of teaser.

The choice of paper of fabric is very significant and can mean the difference between a happy, solemn, or sad occasion. For example, if you use white Japanese paper, you are protecting your gift from any impurities. The creases in the Japanese paper represents a commitment to keep the gift pure. The color used is white even if there are different shades of Japanese paper because white is a symbol color for superior spirits and should be pure from contamination. If you choose to use the color red, you are saying that your gift is full of life and will rejuvenate the person accepting the gift. The gift in red Japanese paper could be money or something for good health. This is why money envelopes in Asia are all plain red with a few characters.

As you can see, the complexities of wrapping a gift Japanese style means devoting time and attention to every detail. The act of wrapping is a gift itself and the Japanese take immense pride in making sure the presentation is clean, neat, and aesthetically pleasing aside from being symbolically correct.

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