Japanese Culture in New York - Chopsticks NY

If you are thinking about incorporating a Japanese essence into your gift-giving this year, why not start with wrapping? It is not as hard as you think to add Japanese taste to wrapping, and it is actually the easiest way to spice up your gift. Here we introduce some ideas that you can easily implement as part of your wrapping plan.

Shiho Masuda
Wrapping and space designer. After working at Kate’s Paperie as a gift-wrapping artist, she started her own business as a wrapping and interior design creator and consultant. Her philosophy is to make the most of both Japanese and Western cultures and establish an original style. Currently she advocates “ecology-wrapping,” the use of recycled materials. She also teaches gift-wrapping by appointment.

Shiho Masuda Style & Design www.shihomasuda.com / info@shihomasuda.com
TEL: 212-300-6072
http://www.youtube.com/user/ShihoMasuda

Finding Beauty in Simplicity

Since the concept of Japanese wrapping is quite different from that of the West, just a simple change can make your gift look very unique. To begin with, it might be good for you to know how Japanese wrapping differs from Western style wrapping. “While Western style wrapping tries to fill as much space as possible and make the package look gorgeous, Japanese wrapping uses empty space as part of the design and keeps everything simple,” says Ms. Shiho Masuda, visual designer specializing in wrapping and display/space design. Minimalism is the key to Japanese wrapping. In Western style, the edge of wrapping paper is usually tucked into the bottom and covered by ribbons, decorations or tissue paper, but in Japanese style, the edge of the wrapping paper or cloth is considered a part of the decoration and people try to make the most of it by creating pleats or frills.

As for color, the traditional Japanese pallet tends to be reserved, natural, and mid-tone, and when it comes to the combination of multiple colors, they generally choose colors from similar tones which creates a natural gradation. “We call it monochromatic color combination. For example, if you match sage green and brown, that’s perfectly Japanese. But you can also choose colors from opposite tonal ranges to create dramatic accents. In that case, it would look more beautiful with solid colors rather than mid-tone colors,” advises Ms. Masuda.

Essential Materials

There are several materials necessary for Japanese wrapping and each of them produces a different visual effect. To start, it is recommended that you decide on a certain material rather than buying them all.

A furoshiki is a traditional Japanese wrapping cloth made of silk, cotton, and synthetic fibers such as rayon, nylon, and polyester. The shape is almost a square (but not exactly), and there are a variety of sizes from tiny handkerchief sizes for wrapping small things like envelopes and bento boxes to ones that can wrap even futon mattresses. Although they are not employed in everyday use as they once were, in this eco-conscious age furoshiki are being reevaluated as a substitute for disposable shopping bags. Even Japan’s Ministry of Environment promotes the use of furoshiki on its website and shares many ways to use these versatile cloths.

A tenugui is a traditional Japanese cotton towel which has a long rectangular shape. Like furoshiki, tenugui are quite versatile and can be used as tablecloths, wall decorations and for wrapping. The rectangular shape makes it easier to wrap long items like bottles.

There is nothing wrong with using regular wrapping paper, but you can easily add Japanese taste by switching to washi. Washi is a type of traditional Japanese paper made from the bark of trees or sometimes bamboo, hemp, rice and wheat. It has a fibrous texture and often has beautiful patterns. Major craft shops in the U.S. carry washi.

Mizuhiki is a thin cord made of paper which was originally used to tie up hair until the Edo period. Today it’s commonly used for decoration of ceremonial gifts for occasions such as weddings, graduations, births, etc. There are different colors, and it’s easy to handle making impressive shapes. Using mizuhiki instead of regular ribbons and strings can easily give your wrapping a Japanese flavor.

If you want to skip complicated preparation, there are still options. Just attach a Japanese style accent like origami cranes, chopsticks, bamboo coasters, bamboo mats to your regular wrapping. It might sound strange, but it will definitely become an original gift.

If you get confused about where to start and which materials you should use, take Ms. Masuda’s advice. “Think about the receiver’s personality first. If you keep this in mind for choosing materials and deciding on designs, you’ll be successful,” she says. To shop for the Japanese gift-wrapping materials introduced above, please check out the craft & gift shops listed below.