FUKUSA - ritual cleaning cloth (silk)

The Fukusa is a cloth made of pure heavy silk, made in the old traditionally way. The best quality Fukusa in Japan costs a small fortune and can’t be found anywhere outside Japan. In the tea ceremony Fukusa is used to clean the tea utensils. In the Japanese tradition men use a violet cloth, women a red or orange one. Nowadays women can use various colours, matching the colours of their kimonos. The folding of the Fukusa and the ritual cleaning of the tea ceremony tools (bowl, spoon, etc.) is a kind of meditation in preparation for the tea ceremony.