Helpful illustrated Japanese wrapping instructions

Shimojima in Japan has a nice collection of how-to photos and illustrations. It's also a great source for ideas.

Check out their "wrapping clips". They are pdf's with step-by-step photos. The instructions are in Japanese, but the photos give so much info you don't need to read Japanese to find these useful.

Also nice is this page of links to illustrated step-by-step instructions for a few methods of wrapping and creating bows, including on the diagonal (like they do in department stores in Japan.

And for idea shopping, these images of the techniques taught in their various wrapping classes.

Japanese Furoshiki Video

Appears to have been created as part of the Mottainai furoshiki effort by the Japanese Ministry of the Environment to encourage people to use furoshiki rather than disposable bags.

Note: Some wrapping instructions start about 43 seconds in and end at 1:06.

Furoshiki Tips

Recently found another helpful furoshiki wrapping guide
.

This site also took me to a great photoblog with loads of interesting images taken in Japan.

How to wrap Japanese style

Found this resource that shows how to wrap on the diagonal just like they do in Japan.
(Note: this post was updated to fix broken image and update the link to the Japanese content on 2/3/08)

Nice resources for furoshiki wrapping

Even though I can read very little Japanese, this this site has some nice illustrations that step through the wrapping process of several different shapes and styles.

This English language furoshiki study group site has a great list of resources

This site has great images and steps in English including how to wrap a watermelon as shown below.


This site is great one, too.

And Kakefuda-san is kicking out some lovely furoshiki designs.

How to wrap a shirt with a furoshiki.

The Japanese Space Agency's "furoshiki".

Great Japanese store - in Alderwood Mall of all places

Last weekend we hit the new Daiso store at Alderwood Mall (next to the Sears). Only a Japanese 100Yen/Dollar store would lure me to that vast confusing suburb of Seattle. I loved it...and I will be back. I love the random collections of things like backscratchers (I don't think I've ever been in a store with such a variety), patches that claim to refresh and heal, great cheap gift wrapping material, dishes and much more. There was so much interesting cheap stuff...not your usual dollar store date. There are actually quite a few Daiso pics on Flickr.


The aisles are VERY narrow and the shelves are loaded with stuff. Note to the ladies with the huge strollers this is not a good store for you unless you leave the stroller at the door.

Furoshiki at the Ginza Mitsukoshi

I love how Japanese wrapping integrates the shape of the object rather than just covering a box. Here's more about furoshiki. These furoshiki were in the tea and gift department of the Mitsukoshi department store in Tokyo.

One sticker wrapping

The only adhesive holding this wrap on is the flower sticker on the front. I saw loads of stores wrapping with just on piece of tape or sticker when I was in Japan.