Todaya Shoten Sarasa Japanese Tenugui Towel – Blue

Made in Japan — Traditional Chusen-Dyed Tenugui by Todaya Shoten

Founded in 1872 in Nihonbashi, Tokyo, Todaya Shoten is a long-established specialist in Japanese tenugui towels. Every design and colour palette is original, combining traditional craftsmanship with bold, inventive ideas.

From stencil making and dyeing to the final folding, almost every stage is completed by hand. Each tenugui carries the warmth and depth of hand-dyed fabric, with a character that machine production cannot replicate.

Three Commitments Behind Todaya Shoten’s Rienzome Tenugui

1. Carefully Selected Cotton

Rienzome tenugui are made from natural cotton that feels gentle against the skin. Lightweight, durable and highly absorbent, the fabric absorbs perspiration and moisture while drying quickly.

With use, the cotton develops a softer texture and feels increasingly comfortable against the skin. Repeated washing gradually mellows the dyed colours, allowing you to enjoy their subtle changes over time. The same commitment to distinctive, high-quality fabrics extends to Todaya Shoten’s yukata and other products.

Rienzome tenugui use specially woven fabrics named Shin Oka and Wakamatsu. Shin Oka corresponds to Tokuoka, a finer grade than standard Oka fabric, while Wakamatsu corresponds to Jōsōri, a higher grade than standard Sōri. Both are wider and more densely woven than conventional Tokuoka and Sōri fabrics, providing added durability.

2. Thoughtfully Crafted Stencils

Todaya Shoten primarily uses two types of stencils for chusen dyeing: hand-cut and machine-cut. Each has its own strengths, and the method is chosen to suit the pattern.

For hand-cut stencils, experienced artisans draw on their deep understanding of chusen dyeing to reproduce the original artwork faithfully. They carefully adjust the blade angle, line thickness and dot size, anticipating how each detail will appear once dyed.

Their expertise also makes complex patterns possible, including Hosokawa dyeing, which uses multiple stencils. Machine cutting, a more recent technique that has grown in popularity, allows easy reproduction from digital artwork and can be more economical for certain designs.

3. Traditional Chusen Dyeing

Rienzome yukata and tenugui are dyed in specialist chusen workshops, with almost every stage carried out by skilled artisans.

Chusen-dyed tenugui have no designated front or back: both sides display the design. This reflects a Japanese appreciation for beauty even in hidden details, ensuring that whichever side is used can be enjoyed as the front.

To achieve this, Rienzome primarily uses chusen dyeing, which allows the dye to penetrate through the full thickness of the cloth and into the core of its fibres.

Follow the care instructions supplied with the product.