What Is Japan’s “Takeout Culture”?
Mottainai: An Eco-Friendly Spirit with Roots in Edo
Tokyo’s clean streets owe something to a mindset that has been passed down from Japan’s Edo period (17th–19th centuries): valuing what we have and reusing things.
This spirit lives on today in the word mottainai and remains part of everyday life and culture in Japan. By experiencing this time-honored approach for yourself, you too can help keep Tokyo clean and comfortable for generations to come.
Values Passed Down from Edo
During the Edo period, kimono fabric was used again and again. Kimono were remade from the original fabric, and once too worn to wear, they could become sleepwear, diapers, or cleaning cloths. Even when the fabric finally fell apart, it could still be used as kindling. The resulting ash was then collected and sold for use as fertilizer or pottery glaze.
Nothing went to waste. Limited resources were reused, repurposed, and kept in circulation as part of everyday life. This respect for what we have, along with the importance of keeping our surroundings clean, has been passed down through generations and can still be seen in Tokyo today.
Furoshiki: Japan's Original Reusable Bag
Furoshiki has been part of everyday life in Japan for centuries. Made from a single piece of cloth, it can be folded and tied in different ways to wrap and carry almost anything, from square boxes to round bottles.
Tie it, and it becomes a simple piece of cloth again, ready to be used for something entirely different. This versatility makes furoshiki a natural example of circular thinking: use what you have and repurpose it in various ways. By reusing furoshiki, we can also reduce our reliance on disposable plastic and paper bags.
Simple, practical, and reusable, furoshiki offers an easy way to bring a piece of Japan's traditional environmental wisdom into everyday life today.
KEEP TOKYO CLEAN
FUROSHIKI
～Experience furoshiki, the world’s first reusable shopping bag, and help keep Tokyo clean for future generations. ～
- Wrap your purchases and reuse your furoshiki throughout your trip.
- Take your waste with you instead of littering, and dispose of it properly.
- Discover how the traditional wisdom of furoshiki can inspire a more sustainable way to live and travel.
Available at participating hotels and tourist information centers across Tokyo, with distribution rolling out gradually.
*Please note that furoshiki may not be available at all events.
