With vibrant, full-color photographs and detailed instructions, Japanese Flower Wrapping shows readers how the traditional Japanese arts of origami, ikebana and gift-wrapping can be combined to create beautiful and unusual floral arrangements.Making gifts of flowers has long been a Japanese custom. Traditionally, flowers were wrapped in folded washi (Japanese paper) and tied. This practice, known as hana tsutsumi, or flower wrapping, was passed from generation to generation, going back to the time of the samurai. Few modern Japanese people are aware of this ancient style of art and it has been in danger of being forgotten. Author Mitsuko Kawata hopes to recapture the art based on the traditional practice of flower wrapping, while, at the same time incorporating a modern sensibility. She guides readers through the steps of folding decorative papers and tying them with mizuhiki (tightly twisted, long, narrow sheets of washi to which liquid glue is applied) and kimihimo (braided ropes) to fashion breathtakingly beautiful containers and arrangements. In addition to her easy-to-follow instructions, Kawata includes a section on the tying styles of Mizihiki and Kumihimo, as well as a fascinating description of washi.This unique book contains examples of arrangements for a variety of occasions, from Valentine's Day to school graduation. Another section focuses on flowers from every season, shown in arrangements from the simple to the sophisticated. Japanese Flower Wrapping is a book with wide appeal: for practitioners of ikebana and origami it will bring a new dimension to their arts. And for anyone who is looking for innovative ways to present gifts with flair and distinction, the book is sure to be a source of inspiration.

Learn how to bring a Japanese aesthetic into your life with these elegant works of floral art. Japanese kirigami (cut paper) flowers are delicate and beautiful examples of paper craft, but are surprisingly easy to make. This inspirational how-to guide shows you how to make 31 gorgeous designs that can virtually pass for the real thing--except they will never wilt! The sculptural quality of these flowers is an amazing and creative way to add a touch of beauty to your home, or to create low-cost decorations for a wedding, a baby shower, or any other special event. All of the most popular blossoms are represented here, including: 5 different roses--these romantic flowers can be mixed and matched to create a natural looking bouquet Frilly carnations--full of intricate folds and textures, these popular flowers are just as much fun in paper form Colorful tulips--carry a piece of spring with you throughout the entire year Delicate cherry blossoms--enjoy the wonders of cherry blossom season in your own home 3 bold sunflowers--in slightly different shapes and sizes, these cheerful flowers create a sunny bouquet when grouped together Festive poinsettias--blooms that will look fresh throughout the entire holiday season And many more! Simple instructions, templates and colorful step-by-step photos show even novice paper crafters how to create each project, and how to gather them into incredible paper flower bouquets. There are instructions showing how the designs can be used in 18 amazing ways--for decorating, selling, gift giving and entertaining--including: Spectacular wreaths Decorative ornaments Customized photo frames Individualized bookmarks Perhaps best of all, there are instructions for exquisite wearable pieces, sure to draw appreciative comments and perfect as gifts for loved ones: A fashionable floral crown Cheerful brooches A statement corsage Japanese Paper Flowers has all the information and all of the necessary patterns you need! With just some scissors, a few sheets of colorful tant origami paper, and a few drops of crafts glue--all of which can be found online and in paper stores--you can create breathtaking paper flowers in no time at all!

Gift Wrapping is a Kodansha International publication.

Wrap anything from a wine bottle to a yoga mat with this practical Japanese fabric-wrapping book. Long before today's eco-friendly philosophy of "reduce, reuse, recycle" entered America's collective consciousness, furoshiki--the Japanese method of wrapping things with fabric--flourished as a time-honored and practical art form. In Wrapping With Fabric, Etsuko Yamada--born into a long-line of furoshiki makers in Kyoto--explains the "one cloth, many uses" ideology behind the craft, the etiquette of color and the craft's fascinating history. From there, she shares the myriad ways in which a few basic techniques can transform a simple square of cloth into an elegant wrapper. Use your folded fabrics to: Gift-wrap anything from books to flowers Bundle up a picnic Tote items around Use as a handbag or backpack Make into a pillow covering Create decorative coverings for vases, tissue boxes, and more A quiet reminder that opportunities for artistry are everywhere around you, Wrapping With Fabric is the craft book that makes it easy to bring a touch of grace and ingenuity to everyday life--and help preserve the environment, too.

Wrapping Culture examines problems of intercultural communication and the possibilities for misinterpretation of the familiar in an unfamiliar context. Starting with an examination of Japanese gift-wrapping, Joy Hendry demonstrates how our expectations are often influenced by cultural factors which may blind us to an appreciation of underlying intent. She extends this approach to the study of polite language as the wrapping of thoughts and intentions, garments as body wrappings, constructions and gardens as wrapping of space. Hendry shows how this extends even to the ways in which people may be wrapped in seating arrangements, or meetings and drinking customs may be constrained by temporal versions of wrapping. Throughout the book, Hendry considers ways in which groups of people use such symbolic forms to impress and manipulate one another, and points out a Western tendency to underestimate such nonverbal communication, or reject it as mere decoration. She presents ideas that should be valid in any intercultural encounter and demonstrates that Japanese culture, so often thought of as a special case, can supply a model through which we can formulate general theories about human behavior.

"A modern take on a centuries-old art that’s breathtakingly simple.” —Booklist, starred review At its heart, the Japanese art of ikebana is about celebrating an intimate connection with nature. To practice ikebana is to find inspiration in the seasons, favor unassuming blooms and branches, seek balance and simplicity, and remain fully present in the moment. It is a beautiful, pure antidote to our age of distraction and excess. Honoring the lineage of ikebana while making the art their own, Amanda Luu and Ivanka Matsuba of Studio Mondine show us new ways to tell stories with flowers. They offer step-by-step instructions for dozens of stunning, seasonal arrangements, while in the process introducing readers to the themes and stylistic signatures of the art. In Studio Mondine’s hands, this centuries-old practice feels undeniably fresh—and readers are given the gift of learning to create unique, meaningful, and authentic arrangements.

In Japanese culture, it is customary to put as much care into the wrapping of a gift as into choosing the gift itself. The way a gift is wrapped and the material in which it is presented are considered expressions of the giver’s feeling toward the recipient. Now, using techniques that have been part of Japanese tradition for generations, Chizuko Morita offers readers innovative and unique ideas for using the Japanese art of wrapping with cloth in very contemporary ways. In a matter of minutes, a swatch of cloth known as a furoshiki can be fashioned into an elegant wrapping for a CD, a book, a bottle of wine, a box of chocolates, even a soccer ball. And unlike paper gift wrap, if you get it wrong the first time, you can just undo the knots and start again. Not only are the wraps fool-proof, they rely on only three basic knots. INCLUDES: Stunningly original wrapping ideas Gift-wraps for wine, books, CDs, pictures, posters, balls, and boxed items of all sizes Based on techniques that have their roots in centuries-old Japanese traditions of wrapping for gift-giving ALSO: Additional ideas to freshen up everyday items such as pillows, baskets, and more New thoughts for decorating the breakfast and dinner table Add an elegant touch to flowerpots, planters, or a bouquet of flowers Make an instant magazine "rack" or knapsack