Doraemon brings back childhood memories, so I had to get the Time Furoshiki. To turn it into a bag (no sewing), I tested cotton straps and bamboo rings—loop handles were the best. Here’s how and where to buy.
I grew up with Doraemon, the cat shaped robot from the 22nd century.
When the Future Department Store was opened celebrating the 90th anniversary of Fujiko F Fujio, I purchased Doraemon’s Time Furoshiki. (It’s a real double-sided furoshiki with a nice thick texture!)
I was so excited to get this as it reminded me of my childhood memories, but I didn’t have a real use for a furoshiki*. I needed a way to make it practical so it doesn’t just sit in my closet.
Here I share two items that I bought to help me turn my Time Furoshiki into a fashionable bag easily with no sewing.
*Furoshikis are like sturdy square scarves often ranging from 50cm to 90cm. They were used to wrap objects to carry around – just like eco bags today – but they lost their place when shops started to offer paper/plastic bags and are no longer commonly used in Japan today. Like kimonos, the furoshiki industry is trying to make it more attractive to the younger crowd and are also sold as cool souvenirs or wrapping paper alternative.
Cotton handle straps
These cotton “Loop Handles” transformed my Time Furoshiki into a handbag with ease!
Below is a video showing how to do it – right from the place I bought it.
These are best for furoshikis that are 60cm ~ 90cm. The handles are not long enough to be a shoulder bag using a 65cm furoshiki.
Bamboo rings
These Furoshiki Rings come in bamboo and plastic.
I found these much trickier to set up, but that could be because my Time Furoshiki is double layered and thick.
This video from the place I bought it goes through how to set it up, from the basics to advanced.
The bamboo rings are cute, but the rough bits tend to scratch the furoshiki as you slide and tie it onto them. The plastic smooth except for the small circle which is where the plastic was moulded.
Their small rings are suitable for a 50cm furoshiki, while their large hoops are best with 75cm~90cm furoshiki. The large rings can fit my arm though (not at my shoulders), while the small rings can only be hand held once a furoshiki is set in place.
Where to buy
Shops that sell Japanese traditional wares tend to also sell items that make the wares easier to use in today’s everyday life.
I bought these bamboo rings and loop handles from Koike Shouten, a short walk from Asakusa Station in Tokyo. It’s right in the middle of the famous Nakamise Dori shopping strip between Sensō-ji Temple’s Hōzōmon Gate and Kaminari-mon.
Furoshiki hoop and handles are a great way to transform a wrapping cloth into a bag. Because there is no sewing involved, the fabric can be swapped out at any time to make it match your clothes and mood of the day.
Personally, I’d go for the loop handle straps, as it’s much easier and quicker to set up. The bag opening is also much bigger – making it stress-free to put things in or take things out of the bag.
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