Furoshiki cloth 50x50 - Ballad for Gion

Japanese furoshiki cloth 50x50cm - Gion Kouta (Ballad for Gion)

Beautiful furoshiki illustrating Gion Kouta (祇園小唄 - Ballad for Gion), composed in 1910 by Sassa Kôka (佐々紅華) with lyrics from a poem by Mikihiko Nagata.
This poem is about a Geisha talking with nostalgia the pleasure district of Gion of Kyoto. It has four verses, each dedicated to a season.

The first, about spring, is printed on the furoshiki:
tsuki wa oboro ni higashiyama / The clouded moon is visible in Higashiyama
kasumu yogoto no kagaribi ni / Every night the signal fire is hazy and visible
yume mo izayou benizakura / The crimson cherry tree invites in the dream
shinobu omoi wo furisode ni / My secret love is for your long sleeved kimono
gion koishiya darari no obi yo / I love Gion, love Maiko so much Oh pretty Darari Obi

Size: 50 x 50cm
100 % cotton

A Furoshiki is a square piece of cloth, which people used to carry their clothes and toiletries, but later came to be used to carry (or wrap) just about anything. Today furoshiki lost its popularity as a practical everyday item, but remains a cultural traditional and aesthetic value and is still widely use to wrap presents.
You can use it like this or simply as a decoration item (wall hanging, wine holder, table cloth) or a fashion accessory.