Tenugui with Ukiyo-e Pattern "Takaoda Yuu" (346)

Takaoda Yuu.
This beautiful tenugui from Rienzome feautures a beautiful Ukiyo-e picture of a young woman. Okumura Masanobu (1686-1764) was a painter born in the Edo period that liked to focus on "Bijinga" - art displaying beautiful women. The lady portrayed here, Takaoda Yuu, is believed to have been a famous courtesan whose name and reputation remained well known until long after her death.

"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.