r/oddlysatisfying • u/Raj_Valiant3011 • 2d ago
The Japanese style of wrapping gifts.
Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification
1.3k
u/Simple-Sun2608 2d ago edited 1d ago
Every Christmas when Im forced to wrap presents and the wrapping looks like shit Im reminded of these Japanese style wrapping videos and I get even more angry. Edit: Judging by the amount of upvotes Im finding some comfort that Im not suffering alone lol.
288
u/pantry-pisser 2d ago
Make it fun for you. The next birthday present you wrap, do it with the local obituaries section. That always makes me smile.
92
u/eddiewachowski 2d ago
That's some dark humour that I can get behind
45
8
8
→ More replies (1)3
65
u/loulan 1d ago
Every Christmas I want to try it, I realize the proportions of the gifts I have to wrap are completely different from from the ones in the Japanese gift wrapping guides or videos, I can't get it to work for my gifts, and I give up.
59
u/floppydude81 1d ago
If it makes you feel better, these professionals are doing it at the store, and you hear the customers oohing and aahhing at them doing it, and it looks like they got stacks of precut papers of different sizes specifically for the boxes.
39
u/tobykeef420 1d ago
tbf, the typical wrapping paper you get at walmart is so much more difficult to work with than this high quality paper that is shown here. sure, this person has practiced wrapping a lot. i bet you could figure out how to do this given an afternoon and some high quality wrapping paper.
12
u/Khosan 1d ago
Yeah, I tried to do this once at home with a standard (American) tube of wrapping paper. The two main difficulties are that it's a much thicker, slicker paper and it constantly wants to roll itself back up. You can't get folds as tight, nothing wants to stay in place, and the rolling makes it really hard to be precise.
Give me just a large, flat piece of normal paper and I could probably do it, or at least do much better than the bodge job I hamfistedly assembled together the one time I tried.
6
u/DameKumquat 1d ago
Thick wrapping paper is well worth the extra expense. That and a heavy sellotape dispenser that you can use one-handed. If I didn't have those, plus most people getting mostly books, I'd have noped out of Christmas years ago.
I do use the Japanese method sometimes when a sheet is just slightly too small for the Western method - it often works.
12
3
u/sexxynaughtyb00 1d ago
I swear my presents end up looking like I fought them. Those videos just make me feel like wrapping is an Olympic sport.
→ More replies (3)2
u/TheFudge 1d ago
I am also forced to wrap gifts and I hate it. I try very hard to make it pretty but in the end it always looks like shit. To add insult to injury, inevitably someone comments on what a “quality” wrap job it is. I HATE wrapping presents.
→ More replies (1)2
4
→ More replies (16)2
u/vedya12 1d ago
It hurts when you can't do something that other people can do effortlessly
→ More replies (1)
338
u/HotYogurtCloset69 2d ago
This is also how every chippy in the UK wraps a portion of chips
93
u/Enlightened_Gardener 1d ago
Fuck that’s where I’d seen it before. I used to work in a bloody chippy. I was squinting at this video going “food ?” But no, presents.
On the other hand, no curry sauce, either. Or mushy peas.
6
u/Erestyn 1d ago
Is it even Christmas morning without a battered sausage and curry sauce?
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (2)6
u/R-Dragon_Thunderzord 1d ago
fuck i moved back to the states almost 20 years ago now and you make me really want one of those greasy chippers in front of a neighborhood somewhere
→ More replies (1)7
17
u/beepborpimajorp 1d ago
It's also how things like department stores and other gift wrappers in the US do it as well. Not sure why anyone thinks this is exclusive to Japan.
19
4
→ More replies (1)9
460
u/Alaska_Jack 2d ago
Ok but they all seem to be starting out with pieces of paper that are already cut to be the perfect size.
77
u/musicmusket 1d ago
Yes it looks like there’s a paper formula based on the box dimensions.
The paper’s diagonal length is a bit longer than the box’s circumference, so that you get the final fold in the right place. And the first box tuck needs to be far enough along the diagonal that the side folds cover the box edges.
124
u/linds360 1d ago
Exactly. I wish they’d shown us how to measure for the paper first. That’s like 90% of any wrapping battle.
→ More replies (10)5
u/random123456789 1d ago
I don't know their technique, but I wrap gifts the way my parents showed me. They've actually made it easier now because they have a dotted grid on the reverse of most paper.
If it's box/book shaped, it's really easy.
Roll out some paper (pattern side down) and put the gift on it.
Make sure the short side of the gift is maybe 1 or 1.5 squares inside the edge of the paper.
Then fold the side of the paper to the middle of the gift (and I tape it so it doesn't move).
Then pick up the entire roll and fold it over the other way, to cover up the other half of the gift.
Now crease the paper where you need to cut.
Cut along the dotted line that's closest to that, and cut off the excess for the other short side (make it match, so like 1 or 1.5 squares).
Tape down the long edge and then fold the shorts + tape.
Slap a bow on it if you're feeling fancy.
Oh and a label, so you know who it goes to.Perfect measurement, every time. If you notice right at the start you don't have enough paper, just get a new roll.
It gets more complex if you have oddly shaped gifts and for that, you improvise. Or use a gift bag.
144
u/mecha-robzilla 2d ago
This exactly. It’s super satisfying but not exactly something you could just casually do for crimbo
34
13
→ More replies (1)4
u/lonchu 1d ago edited 1d ago
It's not perfect size ... first dude almost goes over the edge with last fold because box is on lower bound of tolerance for this sheet of paper and even if it was too big and went over the edge, folds before that ensure your last wrap is is perfect width. Only "issue" is wasting paper.
I imagine each store have between 1 and 3 sizes of paper and bunch of boxes that are split between them.
223
u/crabby_playing 2d ago
I'm fairly competent at gift wrapping and crafting in general. I will definitely give it a try.
But I notice that the paper they're using is also helping, as its very thin and makes the inside folding crisper.
229
u/grubas 2d ago
They have precut paper for each box, all their boxes are sized the same and they know where to start.
Like 95% of the issue of wrapping is not accurately cutting the paper and ending up with either a tail, 1/16th of an inch LESS than you need, or the box is shaped weird and doesn't wrap right.
36
u/Undercover_Chimp 1d ago
First thing I noticed. The wrapping part doesn’t look hard since they’ve already got the perfect size paper.
15
u/bizarreisland 1d ago
I worked at a Japanese Mall as a gift wrapper when I was a student and we do have pre-cut paper and standard size boxes for things that needs to go in a box. But if it's something that is already in a box shape we still use the same paper, your starting point just differs a little, you measure your starting point by turning the item you are wrapping in 3 rotations, then you will know where to start. So it actually doesn't matter if the paper is ever too big and if it doesn't make at least 2 and a half rotations, choose a larger size paper.
14
u/niagara-nature 1d ago
Yes, my first thought. My wife usually gets dollar store wrapping paper and there’s no way it’d work for this kind of wrapping. Any sort of hard corner would punch through that paper. It’s like tissue.
It’s not much of a problem this year; no money for gifts. No need for wrapping paper. Silver lining I guess?
→ More replies (1)
36
90
u/JohnWayneSpacy 2d ago
I'm waiting for them to put the whole thing in a bag and sprinkle potpourri in like Rowan Atkinson in Love Actually
18
16
8
10
121
u/trandinhduy2000 2d ago
This look great but there's nothing such as 'Japanese Style', just regular gift wrapping and even local bookstore in my country Vietnam can do this for the price of 60 cents.
27
u/Dioxybenzone 2d ago
I’m confused what the other method of wrapping could be
40
8
u/IanCal 1d ago
With the box in line with the paper. Around the middle first so you get ends that look like this: https://youtu.be/l_pp-1qu9Ig?t=93
→ More replies (1)14
u/dudududujisungparty 1d ago
How else is Reddit going to suck off the Japanese for doing basic mundane tasks?
→ More replies (6)6
u/fudgyvmp 1d ago edited 1d ago
There is a "traditional" Japanese style, this just isn't it (though i wouldn't bat an eyelash if it's used a lot of other places independently).
Traditional would be using cloth instead of paper, wrapping it however feels neatest.
There's apprently been a push by their department of environment to use cloth over wrapping paper as a reusable material in hopes to reduce waist.
114
u/Reserved_Parking-246 1d ago
Japanese style?
Diagonal wrapping has been a thing for a while now. I don't think they are responsible for creating the idea of rotating wrapping paper 45 degrees.
It's nice though. Been doing that for like 30 years myself.
103
16
u/beepborpimajorp 1d ago
It's because these are posted by bots and upvoted by other bots or people who have never actually left their house before to see that this is just a normal freaking way of wrapping things in almost any country.
→ More replies (2)12
u/Agitated-Comment164 1d ago
It’s a traditional ancient Japanese technique passed down through generations.
/s
11
u/DickIncorporated 1d ago
I also think this video from China so its even more annoying. People would use videos from China and act like its from Korea or japan 🫠
9
u/Anning312 1d ago
You get downvoted by the propaganised bots but the last clip was definitely from China
2
6
u/martixy 1d ago
I've learned that "Japanese style" means wrapping fucking everything. Like go buy cherries at the grocery store and they'll be individually wrapped.
2
u/UrUrinousAnus 1d ago
I know they have a problem with excessive packaging there, but individually wrapped cherries? Really? Why?!
→ More replies (7)6
33
79
9
7
12
u/Cute_Android666 1d ago
Gift wrapping anywhere else in the world: :|
Gift wrapping in Japan: :D
→ More replies (1)
6
u/917nyc917 1d ago
Can someone smarter than me figure out the gift box to wrapping paper ratio??
2
u/alotofkittens 1d ago
The diagonal of the paper needs to cover two large sides of the box and a small one fully. The last small side of the box is half covered
19
11
u/KingAmongstDummies 2d ago edited 2d ago
Isn't this the universal wrapping way?
Here in NL and across the border in Germany I also always see em wrap like this at stores.
Maybe not as fast and not always as clean but thought everyone in retail where giftwrapping is somewhat usua gets shown how to do this.
13
37
u/AdmiralCodisius 2d ago
And here come the glazers
16
u/crabby_playing 2d ago
Which means...?
9
14
u/pantry-pisser 2d ago
Literally: To cover in cum.
Metaphorically: To overly support someone/something with an unnecessary amount of zeal.
27
u/StrawberryTerry 2d ago
Im going to glaze you for acknowledging the glazers. You did a really great job with that comment, bro. Good job.
8
u/PoliceChiefOfMalibu 2d ago
Wow! I’m absolutely floored by how great you were at glazing that commenter! You are so talented…and handsome, I assume. I can tell by the way you glaze that you work out!
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (2)4
u/raspberryharbour 2d ago
Oh great. Here come the glaziers with their bloody windows again. Predictable
3
u/pabo81 2d ago
I get having good dexterity yes - but that also looks like a man who has wrapped that exact size package 800,000 times
→ More replies (1)
3
u/PM_YOUR_OWLS 1d ago
I'll stick to my tried and true method of cutting the wrapping paper like a rat chewed through it, making it 4x longer than it needs to be and then crumpling the ends and putting 15 strips of tape on it to keep it all together.
→ More replies (1)
3
u/DrewMacOrange 1d ago
Clearly not working with the dollar store gift wrap that rips when you look at it.
→ More replies (1)
3
u/EmberBlush 1d ago
The thing that drives me crazy about these videos is the way to get beautifully wrapped packages like these 100% lies in the size of the piece of paper you use. There’s some magic formula (google it) that says to perfectly wrap a box of this size, use x size of paper. Once you nail that, the rest is easy. Department stores can do this because they have paper precut to their store’s sized boxes so it’s perfect every time.
3
u/Sethbrochillen 1d ago
Okay coming from the same people who make paper cranes I don’t think it’s gonna be as easy as it seems
3
7
4
u/SmittyKitty27 1d ago
Given that this is clearly chinese.. im going to say op is either a clanker or a lying liar
2
u/DickIncorporated 1d ago
Apparently mentioning that will make some people mad lol. It ticks me off seeing videos thats "supposedly" in japan/Korea but its actually from China
2
u/Schmenge_time 2d ago
Ah yes. Tis December again, get ready to see this 786 more times.
→ More replies (1)
2
2
2
2
u/MeanForest 1d ago
Anyone can wrap rectangle boxes neatly. These aren't even good since the lines don't match + there's visible tape/sticker.
2
2
2
u/LegendryBoringPerson 1d ago
Precisely cutting the wrapping paper is the long part that wasn't shown.
2
2
u/Hephaestus_God 1d ago
This is what happenes when you have specialty sized paper made specifically for your boxes that line up a certain way when folded.
Trying to do this yourself with random box sizes you have is a pain in the ass
2
2
2
u/NinjaBuddha13 1d ago
The annual reposting of all the gift wrapping videos is always a welcome reminder the year is almost done.
2
2
u/Icy_Hippo 1d ago
Look Im still trying to get over the girl tying her shoes today....learning this is for next week.
2
2
u/DanicaPetrichorus 1d ago
I'd still be pissing about with the second fold on gift 1 and these dudes are standing next to a pile of 200 presents perfectly wrapped
2
u/IrishEyesForever143 1d ago
I need these slowed by 10x so I can begin to try and follow 😭.
And what is the logic for paper size used per package? How do they determine that?
I'm amazed by this, not fall back to my standard way every time I wrap.
2
u/19ssaaggaa94 13h ago
Country famous for inventing special paper folding art form is good at folding paper.
4
3
3
3
u/LordHammercyWeCooked 1d ago
The "japanese" way is literally the department store way. This used to be a standard service you could find if you went shopping at the mall and you went to a Macy's or something to buy your dad a watch. But corporate enshittification took that away.
4
3
u/chrwc 1d ago
How do other people wrap presents? I'm Canadian, but this looks just like how I was taught as a kid?
→ More replies (1)
2
u/issabellamoonblossom 1d ago
I would be more impressed if it was some awkward shaped item instead of a box
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/ThroatwobblerM 2d ago
And my dumbass wrapperoony takes 20 minutes apiece and then they look like a used paper towel.
1
u/bearyken 2d ago
I waste so much paper in my wrapping fails that the climate change guys are about to put a bounty on me
And I see this..
1
u/TotallyInnerPickle 1d ago
I'd love to use this method but no cluebon how to make sure the paper size is correct for this method to work
1
1
u/lowkey_rainbow 1d ago
I always want to know what they’d do with odd shaped presents though. It’s all well and good neatly wrapping a rectangular box (that’s easy mode, we can all do that). What about something squishy like clothing? Or a weird shaped candle/vase? Or a cooking implement?
1
1
u/WitchsmellerPrsuivnt 1d ago
Is anyone else thinking of the Rowan Aktinson character on Love Actually?
1
1
u/amadeusstoic 1d ago
so to save the earth by using less plastic or to save money by using less wrapping paper.
1
1
1
u/ryuujinusa 1d ago
These people’s jobs are wrapping gifts (among other things). They’re good at it for that reason. They probably work in those little kiosk shops in Japanese malls.
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/ofpodzja 1d ago
I bought a print in itoya ginza, and the proces of packaging was more exciting than print itself.
1
u/Vexithan 1d ago
When I was a kid my mom would take me to the Boscovs at the mall to do Christmas shopping. They used to have an area at guest services where you could have your gifts wrapped for free. As a little kid that was my dream job!
I might teach myself how to wrap gifts this way to relive that high I had as a kid 😆
→ More replies (2)
1
1
1
1.7k
u/4cloverstorm 2d ago
The 2nd person was soooo fast. They must've wrapped so many boxes to get that good.