In December 2005, Environment Minister Koike Yuriko wrote in her email newsletter: Watakushi wa kono tabi “mottainai furoshiki” naru mono o tsukurimashita. “I have now made something called a ‘mottainai furoshiki.'” A furoshiki is a square wrapping cloth.
The ministry explained that she saw the furoshiki, a part of traditional Japanese culture, as a way to start people thinking about a society that cares for the environment. The ministry also held a class on how to wrap things with it.