What gift will please that person who has taken care of you?

I’m planning to visit Madam S in the hospital. Do you want to join me?
The other day, I received an email from one of my seniors when I was working as a reporter.

Madam S is an expert in dressmaking. She runs an atelier at her home. After gaining experience as an apparel manufacturer and instructor at a fashion school, she is now focusing on activities to convey the fun of craftsmanship to the next generation.

I first met Madam S when I was a rookie reporter. At the time, I was in charge of a one-year series of articles titled “How to remake clothes,” supervised by Madam S. It was an excellent opportunity for me.
She always kindly taught me not to mention the ABCs of the article, but also to me, who was a total amateur, in easy-to-understand words. She also occasionally treated me to home-cooked meals and was a great help to me both publicly and privately.

I heard Madam S had been unwell for about a year.
I replied to my senior’s email, “I’d like to visit Madam S with you,” and went to the Haibara shop in Nihonbashi on the same day.
I wanted to find a gift that would make Madam S happy.

A hand mirror, a small box of chiyogami paper, and a flower chest -The unwavering charm of Haibara items

Haibara is a long-established Japanese paper shop that has been in business for over 200 years. Here you can find a wide variety of original goods made from washi and chiyogami, which people have loved for many years.
Because Madam S loves beautiful and cute things, she will like Haibara’s items.
I strolled around the store for about 30 minutes, where products with stylish and pop colors were lined up, and found some products that seemed to be good gifts for Madam S.

They were Haibara chiyogami hand mirror, Hexagonal pen holder, Chiyogami small box, Flower chest, Chiyogami photo frame, and Jabara memo pad.
Let’s take a look at the features and charms of each item.

Haibara chiyogami hand mirror

A palm-sized hand mirror that made me say, “So cute!” in the store. The mirror features Haibara’s original chiyogami patterns handed down since the Meiji and Taisho periods.
The lineup of chic and retro patterns such as “cherry blossoms and Tachibana orange,” “six flowers,” “cherry blossoms,” “Chou-you,” “colored glass,” and “wind-waiting grass” looks fun.
Lightweight and easy to carry, you can put it in a small bag or pouch for everyday use.

Hexagonal pen holder

This folding pen holder is made of beautiful Haibara chiyogami paper. It is an excellent item that you can use to organize small things around the desk, such as writing instruments, scissors, glasses, and remote controls.
This product also comes in a lineup of popular patterns, including “Nami ni Kora,” “Hanamushi Karakusa,” “Peony,” and “Oshibori.”
Since it is packaged in a folded form, it is light to carry around and is popular as a souvenir for people overseas.

Chiyogami small box

Why do “boxes” attract people so much? The “Chiyogami small box,” which uses Haibara chiyogami designs, looks like a fantasy space. Just thinking about what to put in the cute box makes my heart leap.
The Chiyogami small box comes in two sizes: a small box the size of a business card and a letter box big enough to keep a set of Jabara letter paper.
You can enjoy it in various ways, such as matching the small box and letter box with the same pattern or making a set with different designs.

Flower chest

This stylish small drawer is loved both as a daily item and a work of art. It is a fascinating item to see. Each one is delicately handcrafted by artisans and is beautiful from every angle.
The chiyogami pattern is adjusted so that the design looks beautiful when the three drawers are stacked. Also, the inside of the drawers is tailored with chiyogami, showing a traditional sense of beauty in every detail.
It will be useful for organizing small personal items such as hand mirrors, notepads, watches, and accessories.

Chiyogami photo frame

You can use this stylish photo frame in various ways. The cover made of Haibara chiyogami opens to reveal two sides, one with a round window and the other with a square window.
Not only for displaying photos but for your favorite postcards, paper coasters, rags, etc., in adjustable sizes to create a chic interior design.

Jabara memo pad

It is a memo pad with a unique idea, created using the technology of Haibara’s signature Jabara letter papers.
The cover features a retro and modern Haibara chiyogami design. The inside paper is also decorated with elegant chiyogami patterns.
The pages are folded in a bellows shape, and each fold is perforated, so you can enjoy cutting off the pages wherever you like. It is practical for various occasions as a small memo or message card.

As a gift to your loved ones- something with a sense of beauty, with traditional techniques and breath passed down from generation to generation.

Which item would I choose for Madam S’s sympathy gift?
I selected the Flower chest and the hand mirror among the products I had shortlisted. I chose the “Chou-you” design for both and put the hand mirror in the drawer of the flower chest as a gift.

As soon as Madam S opened the package, her eyes lit up, and she said, “Oh, what a cute design,” and “I’m excited just looking at it. She picked up a flower chest and a hand mirror and relaxed her cheeks. She talked about many things, such as how she played with chiyogami paper as a child and how she designed and matched colors in dressmaking.

On my way home, relieved to see Madame looking so healthy, I realized the amazing power of gifts again.
As a gift for someone special, I would like to send something with a sense of beauty that has inherited traditional techniques and breath.
The gift selected while imagining the recipient’s smile will bring both the giver and the receiver an abundance of euphoria and a tender moment.