# Tenugui
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> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenugui
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{{short description|Traditional Japanese multi-purpose cloth}}
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{{more footnotes needed|date=November 2015}}
{{More citations needed|date=June 2020}}
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[[File:Tenugui.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Tenugui are also worn, including by athletes. This is a typical [Kendo](/source/Kendo)-style {{transliteration|ja|tenugui}}.]]
A {{nihongo||[手拭い](/source/Wiktionary%3A%E6%89%8B%E6%8B%AD%E3%81%84)|'''tenugui'''}} is a traditional Japanese decorative [towel](/source/towel) made from a thin and light [cotton](/source/cotton). It dates back to the [Heian period](/source/Heian_period) or earlier. By the [Edo period](/source/Edo_period), {{Transliteration|ja|tenugui}} became what they are today; about {{convert|35|by|90|cm}} in size, [plain woven](/source/plain_weave), and almost always dyed with plain color or some pattern. The long sides are finished with a [selvage](/source/selvage), while the short sides are left unfinished to allow fraying.[{{cite web |last1=Rich |title=Tenugui: A Cloth Without Limits |url=https://www.tofugu.com/japan/tenugui/ |website=Tofugu |publisher=Tofugu LLC |access-date=21 June 2020 |ref=001 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200621042824/https://www.tofugu.com/japan/tenugui/ | date=7 May 2014 | archive-date=21 June 2020}}]
{{transliteration|ja|Tenugui}} are traditionally used, tied in a specific manner, as a sling to wrap and carry bento boxes. Similarly, they're used to wrap items such as bottles. They are also used as hand towels, and often as headbands, such as for [Kendo](/source/Kendo). And they are widely used simply as souvenirs or decorations.[{{cite web |date=27 July 2018 |title=Choosing a Japanese Tenugui Towel |url=https://japanobjects.com/features/tenugui |access-date=3 April 2023 |website=Japan Objects}}][{{cite web |last1=Bloom |first1=Gary |title=What Is a Tenugui |url=https://kyotocollection.com/what-is-a-tenugui/ |website=Kyoto Collection |access-date=3 April 2023}}][{{cite web |title=How to use Tenugui: Let's use it in the kitchen |url=https://kamawanu.jp/feature/8978/ |website=Kamawanu |access-date=3 April 2023 |language=Japanese}}] Although tenugui were once used as dishcloths, today Western-style thick or [terry cloth](/source/terry_cloth) dishcloths have generally replaced {{transliteration|ja|tenugui}} for dishcloth use.