Britons urged to wrap their Christmas presents Japanese-style

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ptolemy at 04:45 PM JST - 24th December

Obviously the Britons pushing for this have never been to Post-Showa Japan. In the 12 years I've lived here its all wrapped in paper, the rewrapped in paper, a plastic wrapping to protect the paper wrapping, then placed in a plastic bag, and then finally placed in a paper bag.

This must the Japanese style they're talking about. Japanese people have heard their grandparents talk about the good old days when "furoshiki" was common, but I've never seen it except from old ladies giving gifts to each other.
oreoreda at 05:14 PM JST - 24th December

Absurd. But I wouldn't mind getting a pressie wrapped in pashmina.
Hotbox08 at 05:30 PM JST - 24th December

What it all boils down is to individual attitudes. Even if people give you loads of wrapping and packaging at stores (which I do get a lot of here in Japan), I like many people I know use that wrapping in many other ways. For example, I carry two plastic bags which I got from the convenience store, and refuse at the counter the ones they offer me. I also get a little stamp card at the supermarket, whenever I use my own convenience store plastic bag, which I keep with me at all times. I also use those plastic bags for emergencies when times when I feel sick, ala "barfbag" (often after a late night out drinking). As for cellophane wrap some of the things come wrapped in, I use it for stuffing or wrapping.
Ah_so at 05:39 PM JST - 24th December

Newspapers with a ribbon make a pretty cool alternative to wrapping paper.
Pukey2 at 09:07 PM JST - 24th December

Japanese style? What, wrapped ten times in paper and plastic? If you love someone, why wait til Xmas to give presents?
kirakira25 at 09:14 PM JST - 24th December

Like hell am I wrapping a gift in a silk scarf or pashmina! That IS the gift!
Wottock_Hunt at 09:51 PM JST - 24th December

Amazing - the Labour Prty who took us into Iraq, (which cost how much? For what?) lecturing us about waste of a bit of paper.
browny1 at 11:32 PM JST - 24th December

What a joke.

Japanese wrapping is the epitome of "mottainai".

Foreign media feeding on more of that "Zen and the art of....BS" practiced by 0.02% of the population.

The wastage here is criminal.
ptolemy at 01:57 AM JST - 26th December

The Japanese used to not waste anything, and had very clever methods to do that.

The rest of the world did as well, not so special to just Japan.
bobbafett at 02:24 AM JST - 26th December

I never wrap presents. Just tell the person to close their eyes and then hand it to them.
seesaw at 01:36 PM JST - 26th December

Can someone tell my Mummy about this please...cause I dare not.....:)
LFRAgain at 09:11 AM JST - 27th December

I never wrap presents. Just tell the person to close their eyes and then hand it to them.

That's actually more fun for both parties, I think. I like that too.

In the meantime, Tom Cruise and his lovely wife apparently spent over US$6000 this year on wrapping alone.
Judyboots at 03:48 PM JST - 27th December

I appreciate the point about the furoshiki, but for those of us who live here, it's never going to sound like a good idea - trying to save paper by wrapping Japanese style.
The point about the furoshiki (or the pashmina) is that you don't need to give it away. Once the present has been unwrapped, you usually take your furoshiki home with you, to be used another day. I don't think I have enough old silk scarves lying around to use them as wrapping paper that I don't get back!
sf2k at 04:33 PM JST - 27th December

colourful small paper bags are pretty common replacement for wrapping, also you can reuse the bag again during your own gifts throughout the year.
Sarge at 08:17 PM JST - 30th December

"cut down on wrapping paper"

I bet the wrapping paper makers are incensed at this.