Japan refers to the art of gift-wrapping as “tsutsumi.” Tsutsumi, which translates to “to wrap,” expresses how important it is to the Japanese to offer gifts in a lovely and courteous way. The practice of tsutsumi has been passed down through the centuries and is still common in Japan.
For gift-wrapping, the Japanese employ a range of materials, such as washi paper, furoshiki fabric, and beautiful ribbon. Traditional Japanese paper known as washi is created from the mulberry tree’s bark. It is robust, thin, and has a distinctive feel that makes it ideal for gift-wrapping. Gifts of any size and shape can be wrapped in furoshiki cloth, a particular kind of wrapping material. To make a variety of forms and designs, it can be folded and tied in a number of different ways.
The size of the present determines the size of the wrapping. Japanese people measure their gifts carefully before choosing the wrapping material because they think the wrapping should exactly fit the gift. To make a neat and orderly box, the wrapping is then precisely trimmed to size, folded, and wrinkled. Victorians were well-known for their ornate gift-wrapping methods in the 19th century. They made complex designs by layering tissue paper and lace. The Victorians spent a lot of time and attention on their gift wrapping because they thought it was just as important as the present within.
Wrapping paper was created in 1917 by the Hall Brothers business, which later evolved into Hallmark. The business started selling colored tissue paper for wrapping presents. Wrapping paper soon gained popularity and is now one of the most often used materials for gift-wrapping.
Gifts were once wrapped in a variety of materials other than wrapping paper. To wrap gifts in the past, humans utilized leaves, animal skins, and even fabric. with more recent times, people wrapped gifts with brown paper, magazines, and newspapers. Washi paper and furoshiki cloth have long been staples of Japanese culture and are still frequently used today.
To sum up, tsutsumi, or Japanese gift wrapping, is a skill that has been handed down through the years. The Japanese utilize a range of materials and techniques to make attractive packages because they think the wrapping is equally as essential as the present within. Gift wrapping is meticulously calibrated to guarantee a precise fit, and traditional Japanese papers and fabrics are frequently employed. The art of tsutsumi is still commonly employed in Japan even if wrapping paper is now the material of choice for gift-wrapping.
The Art of Japanese Gift Wrapping advises employing the “furoshiki” technique, which involves wrapping items in a piece of cloth that may be reused or recycled, to reduce waste while wrapping presents. Additionally, because the cloth may be altered to fit the gift’s size and shape, the furoshiki method offers versatility. Additionally, utilizing ornamental ribbons or washi tape in place of conventional adhesive tape can cut down on waste.
Use equipment like scissors, tape, a ruler, and a bone folder to wrap your present following the Japanese method. As for supplies, you can use ribbon, tissue paper, wrapping paper, and ornaments like flowers or stickers.