Tenugui are thin cotton hand towels that feature a variety of beautiful Japanese designs. Not merely decorative, the large size of tenugui allows them to be used in all sorts of ways: from dusting furniture and drying off hands to wrapping precious objects, and even as belts.

The patterns used in tenugui illustrate the differences between Kyoto and Edo, the two ancient capitals of Japan. Edo style tenugui tend to feature scenes of Kabuki actors and the high spirits of ordinary people living in Edo, while Kyoto style tenugui usually have simple but elegant patterns without any specific theme.
This exhibition will feature the Edo style tenugui of Fujiya, a shop located in Tokyo, as well as Kyoto style pieces from the well regarded Eirakuya.