"Tenugui in Manhattan"

I love "Tenugui".  It is a Japanese Cotton Towel, about 12" by 35" rectangular.

"Te" means "Hand" and "Nugui" means "wipe". 

Traditionally they always have specific panel prints.
But those towels are not just for wiping your hands.  Japanese have many traditional ways to use them.  You may see many Sushi Chefs twisted it, then putting it on thier fore-head like a sweat band.  Usually they use ones with small polka dots printed on them, navy polka dots on white.
According to "wuhao (the New York based company that imports Tenugui from Japan)", we can find evidence of "Tenugui" as far back as the ancient Kofun-Era (250~538AD) in Japanese history. Until the Nara-period (710~794AD) "Tenugui" were made of Silk or Hemp.  During the Heian-period (794~1185AD) the term "Terugui" originated.  It was only after the periods between Azuchi-Momoyama and Edo (1568~1867AD), the use of "Tenugui" spread to the general public. 
Along with the spread of public bath houses in the Edo-period, the uesage of "Tenugui" accelerated. 
The Luxury-Banning Act (Third Shogun Yoshimune made this Law) changed the public demand from silk to more modest Cotton for 'Tenugui".
You can lean more about "Tenugui" if you visit "wuhao". < wuhaonyc.com >

"My Favorite Vintage Tenugui" 

Very Basic, yet Very Japanese.

You will be able to find very similar patterns in Silk Kimono Fabrics.

Simplicity...

Give-away for "the Year of Hen"

Believe it or not , this is a give-away from "Cabaret Red Shoes"

 Checkered Panel, Pink Cherry Blossom Flower Petals, and Red Border.
What A Combination in A Panel !

In my memory, "Tenugui" was almost always given from merchants as gifts. Especially around every New Year's Day.  As the New Year's Best Wishes, they gave away "Tenugui" to their customers.  So, you can always find name of murchant or thier logo on them.  
Even many years later, you can still see where "Terugui" came from.
Nowdays such a tradition is disappearing. It is hard to find "Tenugui" with merchants' names or logos. On the other hand, you can find and buy "Tenugui" in souvenir shops or even at department stores.
They are becoming more like novelty things, not like "Tenugui" I remember from my childhood in Japan.
Since they are always in 100% cotton, they are so convenient to use in Kitchen to cover dishes for drying, or covering prepared food. 
My family used them in the bath-tab as a wash-cloth, or  keeping in the bathroom for drying hands. I also remenber grandmother covered upper part of Futon with "Tenugui" so that it would be easy to keep clean the part close to your face.
So, as you can see, "Terugui" has endless ways to use.  
No wonder, in recent years Japanese rediscovered uniquness of "Tenugui".

"Souvenir Tenugui"

from Tokyo.

from Tokyo "SHITAMACHI (Old Section of Tokyo)"

Those "Happi Coats" have Symbols of each Aria.

from Island of Ooshima,  famous for "Camilla"

from The Museum of Ancient Izumo in Shimane-prefecture.

Friend of mine sent to me this a few years ago.

That is the one of many places I want to visit some day.

When I get there, will I be able to find more "Tenugui" ?

from Kyoto.

"Ocasional Tenugui"

This one I've got for the New Year's Day.

Of course, this one is for Christmas time.

First 3 letters in "Hiragana"  Japanese Alphabet.

"All Hiragana" these are the very base of Japanese Writing.

 Tenugui with non-traditional prints, I found all of them in Kyoto.

Modern Terugui have more colors and patterns on them.  They are almost like regular printed cotton fabrics. They are just narrower and cut into the traditional "Terugui" length. 
I believe they are all "Hand Printed".  Some of the companies who makes terugui have started making other items with modern tenugui.  
I have some of those items.  I'll post them very soon.
But for me, Old Tenugui gives me warmth.  
Not so much from new ones, even though they have so much Brightness and Playfulness in them.  Happy but not to feel Complete.
Maybe nostalgia, but I still love my few antique ones so much more, patterms are simpler, but yet they are so modern......