00:00 [Music]
00:07 Tenugui hand towels have long been a feature of daily life in Japan.
00:16 Made from thin cotton, they come in a standard size of 35 by 90 centimeters.
00:26 This versatile towel first became popular about 400 years ago.
00:30 At first it was simply for wiping away perspiration or protecting the face or hair from dust.
00:39 But even today people are still finding new uses for Tenugui.
00:48 They're a great way to wrap box lunches and drink bottles.
00:55 And even things like tissue boxes.
00:57 A simple everyday item that reflects so much of Japanese culture.
01:03 Modern designers are finding the Tenugui a great medium to express their creativity.
01:23 Simple to frame, they add a decorative touch to any interior.
01:27 Some Tenugui are really small works of art.
01:35 The beautiful gradations on this design are achieved using a traditional technique called "Tusen-dai".
01:44 This store has a history going back 150 years.
01:53 This is Kobayashi Takuya.
01:56 He continues the tradition of "Tusen-dai" Tenugui.
02:01 Each piece is crafted individually using quality cotton chosen to feel good on the skin.
02:10 First a stencil is placed over the cotton material.
02:15 The artisan then spreads glue through the stencil.
02:19 The dye only colors the unglued parts, revealing the pattern from the stencil.
02:24 Since they are made by hand, each Tenugui is slightly different in color.
02:35 Everyone's Tenugui will be unique.
02:39 For more complex designs, the artisan creates walls of glue to help the Tenugui stick to the surface.
02:46 To do this, the cloth isn't soaked in glue, and two colors are applied simultaneously.
02:50 Kakigori is a kind of shaved ice popular in summer.
02:58 Delicate gradations of color suggest a summery feel.
03:03 The artisan then creates a wall of glue to prevent the different colors spreading and mixing as they are applied.
03:13 Delicate gradations of color suggest a summery feeling.
03:16 These lovely Tenugui designs are now finding other applications.
03:25 People currently want face masks that are fashionable and comfortable to wear, and Tenugui material is perfect.
03:35 At present, people are wearing masks for long periods each day.
03:41 I think our Tenugui masks are catching on because of their bright, cheerful patterns.
03:45 Kobayashi, hearing that schools were short of face masks, decided to give Tenugui masks to his local primary school.
03:53 It's much softer than regular masks. It feels great. Mine's a chameleon. Cool!
04:05 The endlessly versatile Tenugui. A familiar everyday item for centuries, it continues to find new uses.
04:12 Tenugui.
04:14 Tenugui.
04:16 Tenugui.
04:18 Tenugui.
04:20 Tenugui.
04:23 [music]
04:25 [BLANK_AUDIO]
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