The Joy of Tying — What Paracord and Furoshiki Taught Me

Something new is quietly in the works.

I can't share all the details just yet, but today a prototype finally arrived from the maker I've been working with — a furoshiki strap made with paracord.

The moment I opened the box, I picked it up and just… held it for a while.

Something I Noticed About My American Customers

Most of the people I send MUSUBISM furoshiki to are based in the United States.

They instantly connect with the beauty of furoshiki and the idea of living more sustainably. But when it comes to the actual tying — that's where many of them hesitate.

Not knowing how to tie it, and leaving a beautiful furoshiki sitting in a drawer. I wanted to create something that gives those people a gentle nudge forward.

That's where the strap comes in.

No tying required. Just clip on a strap, and your furoshiki becomes a bag. Add one small accessory, and suddenly it feels even more special. I wanted to create that kind of easy, welcoming entry point.

Today, I Made My Own Paracord Strap

With the prototype in hand, I decided to try making something myself — a little strap using paracord.

And while my hands were moving, something clicked.

The joy of paracord is in the making.

I got completely lost in it. I wasn't thinking about whether it looked good — I was just thinking about what to do next. A little uneven? That's character. A loose end sticking out? Somehow, that felt like the best part.

It reminded me exactly of how I feel about furoshiki.

"Why Furoshiki?"

People ask me this all the time.

My answer is simple.

Anyone can do it. You don't need to be skilled. One piece of cloth can do so many things. And it's good for the planet.

At its core, furoshiki is just one piece of fabric. But when you tie it, it becomes a bag, a gift wrap, an everyday essential. Without the knot, furoshiki wouldn't be furoshiki.

And here's something I keep coming back to — fabric itself is made of threads woven and knotted together. Furoshiki is made of knots, from beginning to end. In a way, MUSUBISM was born from the knot too.

Of course, the deeper you go into the art of tying, the more knowledge and skill it takes. But furoshiki is like a perfect gateway — even just a simple overhand knot and a square knot are enough to have fun with it. That's what I love most. It's joyful from the very first try.

Paracord felt exactly the same way. You don't need to know complex braiding techniques. Even on your very first day, you can pick it up and make something. Choose your favorite colors, go at your own pace, and just enjoy the process.

When Your Hands Are Busy, Your Mind Gets Quiet

Put down your phone. Move your hands.

Almost instantly, your focus narrows to just what's in front of you. You stop worrying about doing it perfectly. You just make.

Your favorite color combination, a little twist that's uniquely yours, a cord that pops out in just the wrong place — all of it becomes part of who you are.

And the thing you made with your own hands? You'll love it in a way you never love something you bought. It's yours, truly yours.

That's what furoshiki is about too. There's no single right way to use it. You use it however feels right to you. That's at the heart of everything MUSUBISM stands for.

I Want to Find My People

The new strap collection is still a little ways off.

But I don't want to wait to connect with the people who get it — who love the joy of making, the meditative rhythm of working with your hands.

If you love tying knots. If you love making things. If furoshiki has caught your eye. If paracord sounds like something you'd enjoy. Or if Japan just holds a special place in your heart.

Working with furoshiki keeps reminding me of something — this is what Japan was always about, at its core. A culture built on mindfulness, on craft, on doing things with intention. Japan is often seen from the outside as a place where everyone follows the same rules, moves in the same direction. And in some ways, that's true. But furoshiki tells a different story. One cloth, infinite ways to tie it. No two people wrap the same way. There's so much quiet individuality woven into this tradition — and I think that's the most beautiful part.

Whatever brings you here — welcome to the MUSUBISM community.

Let's tie something together.