Furoshiki – Three Friends of Winter

The wrapping culture of Japan has developed across more than 1,000 years, and wrapping things in cloth is said to have already been a custom by the Nara period (710-794 CE). Furoshiki continue to be used in many ways, from binding precious objects as a means to protect them, to wrapping gifts decoratively, during bathing, or to carry objects from place to place. These 100% cotton furoshiki are printed one by one on an old roller printing machine. Highly skilled craftspeople adjust throughout the process to render the finest details of the patterns, which are different on each side. The patterns themselves have been designed with careful thought towards their symbolic meaning. This furoshiki features a motif called shōchikubai, which is a combination of pine, bamboo and plum blossom. The plum is presented on one side while the pine and bamboo patterns are on the other. These three are considered auspicious motifs both together as well as individually. Pine is a symbol of longevity, bamboo represents strength and vitality while plum blossoms symbolise resilience.