Pleasures of Modern Tenugui Patterns

17 May 2007 Category: Arts & Crafts, Features, Japan, Products

Pleasures of Modern Tenugui Patterns

To get you an idea how colourful and various Tenugui patterns are - we have goldfish, strawberries, racoon dogs, fish, etc. on display.

Finally, summer is on the way in Tokyo! So to get prepared for this sometimes awkwardly humid season, items to absorb the sweat might be more than essential… Usually you would reach for a handkerchief or a hand towel - BUT! Instead, PingMag is recommending to check out Tenugui – Japanese hand towels. For today, PingMag would like to introduce a variety of these stylish and modern Tenugui.

Made with the kind help of Japanese goods shops Todaya-rien and Cossa, located in Tokyo’s downtown Tsukishima area.

Written by Ryoko
Tranlated by Natsumi Yamane

Multi-functionalism

Literally, word Tenugui means to wipe one’s hands. These cotton woven Tenugui are the equivalent of today’s hand towels or handkerchiefs. But you probably didn’t know that there are a lot of other uses for Tenugui: use it to absorb the sweat, dry dishes with it, wash yourself in the bathtub or wear it as a head covering or bandana, etc. Also, you can decorate your interiors with it nicely or even make clothes or small accessories with it.

This Tenugui with lamp patterns works just as well as a Noren hanging, a curtain!

How stylish: the bamboo leaf pattern looks good when used to wrap a bottle of wine.

A cute bunny pattern – perfect for wrapping presents!

Tenugui purses – if you are wearing a Kimono or a Yukata, this is the ideal accessory for carrying underneath the Obi as it never gets bulky.

The ends of Tenugui are rough-hewn so it can be easily torn. According to the owner of “Cossa,” in emergency situations Tenugui used to be torn and used as bandages or to repair the thong of Geta sandals. In addition, Tenugui in the Edo period was also used by firefighters to protect their heads or as carpenters’ headbands.


Ukiyo-e prints showing the lifestyle of the Edo period. Back then, Tenugui used to be essential for craftsmen! (Courtesy of The Japan Ukiyo-e Museum)

A firefighter wearing a Tenugui on his head. (Courtesy of The Japan Ukiyo-e Museum)

Status Symbols

Also, Tenugui was apparently an important apparel for Kabuki actors. Therefore it became a kind of advertisement: if an actor wore one Tenugui pattern that was specially designed for him or one with his house crest on, people who wanted to catch a bit of his celebritiy status wore the same patterns. Oh my, that is just like today with famous actors advertising for clothing brands and other…

The Tenugui on the bottom left has the pictures of a sickle meaning “kama”, a loop meaning “wa” and the character for “nu.” Put together you get “Kamawanu.” This word was coined in the Edo period to refer to one’s manly spirit. Incidentally, this design became well known to the public after famous Kabuki actor Ichikawa Danjuro was seen wearing a Kimono of the same pattern.


A Tenugui with the “Kamawanu” pattern.

From left to right: “Kumadori” with various Kabuki make-up; “Misuji Goshi,” a three-lined grid pattern; and famous “Mimasu,” also known as house crest of Kabuki’s prestigious Ichikawa family.

Fabric Specifications

Tenugui is a fair size larger than an ordinary face towel. However, the fabric is quite delicate and it doesn’t get bulky. Therefore it is perfect for carrying around. Also, it’s dyed using a special method so there is no front or back to the fabric. It tends to lose some colour over time, but then the toned-down colours get just as tasteful!

Tenugui has no front or back - but pays lot of attention to the details. This spider web Tenugui has a truly visual impact!

There are also many stylish patterns and designs you find in the more recent Tenugui. Their wide variety of motifs range from cherry, hydrangea, Koinobori and snowmen, to more fancy animal illustrations, such as rabbits and pigs.

Brightly coloured Tenugui with camellia and especially orange as Japanese summer motif.

A jellyfish pattern, also referring to Japanese summer.

Another summer Tenugui – a Chinese lantern plant.

A ”moon phases” Tenugui for the Mid-Autumn Festival: it is an annual custom to enjoy looking at the moon then.

How about this “rain shelter” Tenugui to cheer you up during rainy season?

Super cute patterns with cherries, apples and strawberries.

A Craving For Tenugui

Tenugui is an item loved by people of all ages and there are certainly fans that always purchase the latest design as soon as it comes out. Also, you might think that it’s favoured more by the ladies - but in fact, there are just as many male fans of Tenugui as well.

Finally, the owner of the “Cossa” shop tells us more about the Tenugui appeal:

Tenugui has a long history and tradition, but there is more to it – it makes people want another one. There is this feeling of wanting to make a personal collection, indeed. I think it’s perfect for a casual present, too. You can think of it like “She or he likes pandas, so let’s give her or him a panda Tenugui as present!” he says.

Last of all, here is the PingMag selection of some of the most stylish Tenugui. Enjoy!


A modern flamingo pattern.

Take a close look… It’s a horde of bats!

A cross pattern for the gentlemen.

This red sea bream pattern is an old motif but updated with a slightly modern touch.

”Dosukoi!” – stylish sumo pattern (left) and the Kanji of different fish (right).

You never imagined that stationery could be transformed into such cute patterns…

Hiding in the dark: a “Kunoichi” or female Ninja pattern.

Looks like a fork at first glance. Actually it is a comb pattern.

A flower pattern with beautiful white and red contrasts!

And finally, the Japanese Sakura, the cherry blossom.

Do you have a favourite one? That is not easy, as there are so many more lovely Tenugui. If you have the chance, watch out for more of those fine patterns!

71 Comments

  1. these designs are sweet! esp like the stationary ones and of course the ’sakura’!

    Posted by: sameer kulavoor on May 17th, 2007 at 8:59 pm

  2. yay! i jsut loved this article! cos i’ve been doing sum silk screen prints myself of late and dis give me a heap of ideas thanx ping xo

    Posted by: elisa on May 17th, 2007 at 9:09 pm

  3. I use them in my kendo practices. The fancy ones don’t come cheap though =4a7d3d609129a9296bf7ac0608c2097

    Posted by: Hao on May 17th, 2007 at 10:04 pm

  4. I think these are the cutest things. I love all the designs, especially the fruits and sakura ones. Very cool article!

    Posted by: lildrummergirl23 on May 17th, 2007 at 10:33 pm

  5. impressive,cleverly play with the colors contrast and visual balancing, like the hiding in dark and flower pattern especially

    Posted by: happa on May 17th, 2007 at 11:51 pm

  6. I will definitely stop by this store when I am in Tokyo!

    Posted by: vaneea on May 18th, 2007 at 12:43 am

  7. if you’re in asakusa, there is a great tenugui shop called fujiya, just off nakamise.

    Posted by: mike on May 18th, 2007 at 8:28 am

  8. Nice artistic work done over there.

    Posted by: john on May 18th, 2007 at 2:48 pm

  9. found this!!

    Posted by: Michelle on May 18th, 2007 at 3:08 pm

  10. Lovely… Ive got a ge ge ge no Kitaro one that I brought about 6 years ago in Japan … Its got loads of Medama Oyaji all over it…. Its amazing… Im going to start wearing it out again… (In the back pocket stylie).

    Posted by: SHANTELL MARTIN on May 18th, 2007 at 3:29 pm

  11. the japanese live design when most just talk about it.

    Posted by: Anonymous on May 18th, 2007 at 5:53 pm

  12. [...] PingMag - The Tokyo-based magazine about “Design and Making Things” » Archive » Pleasures of M… ‘PingMag is recommending to check out Tenugui – Japanese hand towels. For today, PingMag would like to introduce a variety of these stylish and modern Tenugui.’ (tags: Japan design towels textiles) [...]

    Posted by: Heraclitean Fire » Links on May 18th, 2007 at 6:20 pm

  13. I love those with cherries and strawberries. Very positive patterns, to my mind.

    Posted by: GK on May 18th, 2007 at 8:44 pm

  14. I am involved with our East San Gabriel Valley Japanese Community Center in West Covina, CA. I was looking for inspiration on Japanese Design for one of my monthly columns,in the Center’s “Newsette.” and fell down your site head over heels! What a marvelous fountain of inspiration you are. I’ll make sure our readers know about the wealth of your site. Arigatoo. EM

    Posted by: Ed Moreno on May 21st, 2007 at 8:26 am

  15. I use them too for kendo practice… I have a couple but I’m looking for more, do anyone have suggestion about places that sell them online?

    thanks!
    Marcello

    Posted by: Marcello on May 23rd, 2007 at 9:23 pm

  16. where can i buy such a textile in russia (mow)? thanx =)

    Posted by: Lyao on May 23rd, 2007 at 10:54 pm

  17. My favorites have to be the last two. Oh, man. I need me some tenugui.

    Posted by: Anonymous on June 13th, 2007 at 12:42 am

  18. You can also use them like a lightweight summer scarf, and save your neck from sunburns

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  19. textiles

    Posted by: Anonymous on August 17th, 2007 at 12:03 am

  20. where can I find contemporary designers working with katagomi stencils using new technology? thanks:)

    Luci

    Posted by: luci on August 17th, 2007 at 12:08 am

  21. [...] I was out for a bike ride with Saya today, and we stopped at a small shop to look at the Japanese hand towels or ‘tenugui’ that are always on display outside. I always buy these to use as bibs for Saya. (I just tie them on like bandannas.) They come in the best prints. Today this snail print really caught my eye. I though it was so cute, so I couldn’t resist buying it. Actually, I am proud of myself for only buying two today. There were so many good ones. You can see some cool tenugui prints here! [...]

    Posted by: Tenugui « Sei on June 27th, 2008 at 11:27 pm

  22. [...] in such a way that the design is equally visible on both sides. More history and information at  Ping Mag and [...]

    Posted by: Japanese tenugui cloths | Ouno Design on December 16th, 2008 at 5:57 pm

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