The act of wrapping things is familiar with many Japanese people. For instance, one of the traditional items representing this ‘wrapping culture’ is ‘furoshiki’ = a wrapping cloth. The cloth started being used around the Nara period (710-794) in Japan. At that moment furoshiki were used as a practical tool for wrapping things and also acted as a carrier bag once wrapped.
Although, furoshiki are not used as often as in the past, in recent Japan, the act of wrapping or packing is a natural custom for Japanese people. For instance, wrapping a lunch box, bringing a pen case and book cover – there are many items to protect or wrap together in Japan.

Giving gifts is also a deeply entrenched Japanese custom.

There are many occasions including seasonal ones to give or exchange gifts (here, ‘gift’ including money) such as birthdays, weddings, funerals, souvenirs from trips, summer gifts, year-end gifts and New Year’s gifts.
The culture of ‘tsutsumu’ = ‘wrapping’ and has become one of the important Japanese cultures.
The word ‘tsutsumu’ simply means ‘packing’ – the process of enclosing things for sale or transport in ancient times, but it has got other concepts such as: ‘aesthetics’, ‘etiquette’ and ‘faith’ through the long history. It is said that in recent Japanese ‘tsutsumu’ culture was constructed by those concepts.

It can make the quality of Japanese wrapping style higher but also more strict; gifts are often given for keeping good relationships to show a caring side (=gifts), therefore, the gift should be nicely (luxury) wrapped and many occasions have been celebrated/held for a long time. t became tradition therefore there are many rules people have to follow, for instance, people attending the wedding are supposed to bring money, which is put in specific envelopes called ‘gosyūgi-bukuro’, to the ceremony in Japan. How this envelope looks should depend on the amount of money and how this envelope should be hold and exchanged is also fixed. Furthermore, it is traditiona to bring this envelope without covering as this is considerd to be rude; therefore it has to be wrapped by a froshiki in a specific way.

Although gift-wrapping is not only Japanese culture, here are different ideas toward wrapping. In the West, generating an element of surprise in exchanging the gift is the primary reason for wrapping, i.e. the most important moment between giver and receiver can be the unwrapping in front of the giver. On the other hand, in Japan, wrapping is supposed to be an activity of concealment. Opening the gift as soon as it is given is not always required. Some people claim that asking receiver to open the gift in front of giver would put a pressure as s/he will be forced to be pleased no matter if s/he likes it and other people also prefer to open a gift later because s/he cannot react nicely. So, it would be better to ask, ‘Can I open it now?’.

In the stationery industry, both the fundamental idea of wrapping and aesthetics can be seen. For example, the pen-type post-its and 30-ring binder could be said that they are protecting the inside together with putting things together to make it compact. also the packaging is nicely shaped at the same time. People’s care for their belongings can be seen in the products.

Japanese ‘Wrapping’ Culture