AZUMA BUKURO

In use since the Edo period (ca. 1603–1867), azuma bukuro is a traditional Japanese bag made by sewing together a tenugui, a Japanese traditional towel.
“Azuma,” meaning “east,” denotes Edo, or present-day Tokyo, as seen from Kyoto. Created simply by sewing a single piece of cloth together in a straight line, the bag is a product of the wisdom of the ordinary people of the Edo period and called “azuma bukuro” meaning “bag of the east”.
It folds up compactly, yet opens out into a bag with a gusset, making it popular as a reusable bag or an extra bag.