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Tenugui, as its name suggests, has been used for wiping water and sweat for centuries. The sun-dried bleached cotton “sarashi-momen” is used for dyeing, so the fabric of the Tenugui feels the warmth of the sun and becomes softer the more it is used. Also, the material is highly breathable and quick-drying, so it dries quickly.

It is said that in the Edo period, people changed the way they wore Tenugui depending on their occupation or occasion to get into the spirit and enjoy fashion. Today, Tenugui is used for kendo (fencing) and traditional festivals “matsuri”, but it can also be incorporated into fashion as a hair band or turban by arranging the pattern and the way it is worn.

In the Edo period, when people were injured on the road, they would quickly wrap a Tenugui around themselves and use it as a bandage. If you wrap it around your neck, it will protect you from the cold, if the sun is strong, it will protect you from the sun and stop you from sweating, if you wear a kimono, it can be used as a neckpiece “haneri”, and if you put a string around the Tenugui, it can be used as an apron. Wrapping a Tenugui can be used as a hygiene item.

Plain weave Tenugui is easy to clean and can be washed easily, so it is also useful as tableware. If you lay out Tenugui according to the season or theme and use it as a table runner or luncheon mat. If you lay it as a mat under a vase of flowers, it will protect them from your precious furniture.

Just place a Tenugui on your computer or bag to keep the dust away. Wrap it around your child’s neck and it becomes an apron to protect them from food stains. And just by folding the Tenugui and threading the elastic, you have an instant Tenugui mask! Covering the Tenugui will protect you from dirt and viruses.

Tenugui can also be used as a wrapping material like “furoshiki”. Since it is made of 100% cotton, it is strong enough to be folded and tied. After the gift is given, it can of course be used as a Tenugui, making it an ecological item. It is also convenient for wrapping a lunch box or a bottle to carry around.

Today, one of the most popular ways to use Tenugui is to display it as interior decoration. Set it in a frame or on a tapestry, and your Tenugui becomes an art. Just by displaying Tenugui, you can enjoy Japanese culture.

In recent years, “Tenugui remake” has been gaining attention. The reason why Tenugui is so popular as a material for handmade items is that it comes in a wide variety of beautiful and fashionable patterns, and its 100% cotton bleached cotton “sarashi-momen” is safe to use for people with delicate skin and babies. Also, the long side of the Tenugui is the hem of the fabric, so it can be used without sewing. Why don’t you try making your own one-of-a-kind accessories with your favorite Tenugui?