Hello, tea lovers! I’m Mami.
When you buy good Japanese tea ware, it usually comes in a wooden box that is nicely tied with a flat string.
Once you open the box, some of you might have trouble properly retying the string when storing the piece.
Today, I’ll show you how to tie the string.
How To Tie
Step 1
Spread the rope so the two loose ends are at the sides, and the loop is on the upper left corner.
Make sure to adjust the length of the loose ropes to be even.
Take the corner loop and place it over the top left of the box, so that the loop forms a 45-degree-angle over the box.
Step 2
Take the side rope and pull it over the loop.
Step 3
Put the side rope under the loop and pull it diagonally to the side.
Step 4
Take the front rope and put it over the loop and the side rope.
Step 5
Put the front rope under the loop and pull it diagonally to the side.
Step 6
Fold the side rope to make a small loop.
Step 7
Take the front rope and put it over the side rope loop and tie a bow.
Step 8
Tidy up the bow until you think it is just right.
Try not to tie the knot too tight. It might damage the string.
Have the ribbon symmetric.
Goal! You did it!
If you didn’t, practice one more time. My advice is to keep the string flat always not to twist it.
The Story of This Box
The wooden box for Japanese tea ware with an artist’s signature is called Tomobako.
The artist signs his/her name on the lid of the box, so it is treated like a certificate of authenticity for the artwork.
High-grade Japanese tea ware is often placed in a wooden box with a string.
However, even high-grade pieces are sometimes put in a carton box.
The box alone cannot determine the grade of the tea ware.
The string on the box is called Sanada-himo, which has a long history in Japan.