This ancient and traditional technique of folding and knotting historically was used to protect valuable items, such as lacquered wooden boxes or kimonos. In 700 AD, under the Nara era, the first “Furoshiki” appeared to store items of the imperial treasury. The Japanese used the expression hirazutsumi, a method of tying fabric (literally “folded flat pack”) and kept a piece of fabric under their futons so that they could quickly pack up the most valuable items in the household and flee in case of fire, frequent misfortunes at the time in the towns where the houses were built of wood.

Later, the uses of this technique will be multiplied. Among other things, the furoshiki will be used to go to public baths and pack belongings, or by merchants who will appropriate this traditional technique to both protect their products but also to decorate them. Of course, there are many other ways to use “furoshiki” because the Japanese always take special care and attention when it comes to packing things.

With the arrival of modernism, the tradition of furoshiki is gradually being lost, but nevertheless remains important for Japanese people attached to traditional arts.