NIHON ICHIBAN Exclusive Tenugui: Odawara Castle

Odawara Castle [NIHON ICHIBAN]

This Tenugui is a special design for the NIHON ICHIBAN brand. Our company, CHINRIU, was established in 1871 in Odawara (Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan), by Monya Komine- the last chief cook of Odawara Castle. We are now run by the fifth generation of the Komine family, who started the NIHON ICHIBAN brand to share the best of Japanese arts and crafts with the rest of the world.

The Tenugui portrays Odawara's landmark "Odawara Castle", built in 1447! As an important symbol of our city and our background, we are passionate about promoting this beautiful building and have collaborated with Rienzome to create this truly Japanese Tenugui. Additionally, for every Tenugui sold, 100??? is donated to an NPO targeting to rebuild the original wooden structures of the castle!

"Tenugui" is often translated as "Japanese towel", but this translation fails to cover their versatility and cultural significance. Tenugui are not only used as hand towels and handkerchiefs, but also function as fashion items, gift wrapping, souvenirs, sweat bands and padding (e.g. in the martial arts kendo), and of course as decorative items due to their often beautiful, funny or nostalgic patterns.

Please be aware that tenugui cloth by default never are hemmed, which allows them to dry very quickly.