In Japan, the practice of formally presenting gifts with silk covers called fukusa began in the Edo period (1603–1868), around the late 17th or early 18th century. These covers were draped or folded over gifts for a variety of occasions, from seasonal festivities to important personal events. Each fukusa was carefully chosen to evoke the circumstance of the gift and to convey a message to the recipient through its design. Fukusa designs often feature symbolic objects or allusions to Japanese and Chinese stories. The choice of fukusa also reflected the giver’s wealth, taste, erudition, and cultural sensitivity. The use of fukusa continued into the early 20th century. Today, they are used in parts of Japan for weddings and corporate events. In this fukusa, an elderly couple cross a bridge worked in gold thread, surrounded by rooftops and mountains peeking through misty clouds. The gold captures the dimensionality of the bridge by catching the light at different angles. The railings are couched with red thread and the road with yellow, creating a slight difference in hue. Ahead of them is Mount Hōrai, the island of the immortals, often represented by motifs like the crane, turtle, and the “Three Friends of Winter” (pine, bamboo, plum). Together these designs convey blessings of longevity and general good wishes.
