A Review of the ichiori gauze Gauze Blanket for a Comfortable Hot Summer

As the days grow warm enough to bring on a sweat even in the daytime, we've swapped out our closets for the season, and soon it will be time to think about switching out our bedding too.

Why Choose a Gauze Blanket for Sleeping Through Japan's Hot, Humid Nights

Bashou (Brown Border)

When it comes to summer bedding for getting through sweltering nights comfortably, towel blankets and gauze blankets, with their pleasant feel against the skin and good breathability, are the way to go.

"Ket" is short for "blanket." Some people still sleep tucked into a proper futon even in summer, but during the hot season it's easy to sweat heavily in your sleep (some say as much as one to one-and-a-half cups' worth), which lets bacteria multiply easily. This can cause odors and skin irritation and ruin what should be a good night's sleep, so frequent washing is essential. Considering the hassle of things like changing sheets, using a lightweight, easy-to-wash blanket seems like the smart choice.

A light, thin blanket doesn't take up much room in the washing machine and dries very quickly. Even for someone who sweats a lot and needs to wash it every other day rather than just once a week, there's no hassle of removing a sheet cover, washing it, and putting it back on, making it much easier to manage. Thin blankets are often thought of as summer-only items, but that's not really the case. In winter, tucking one beneath your comforter helps release moisture and regulate humidity.

There Are Many Kinds of Blankets—What Material Should You Choose?

Towel Blanket

Pros: Bedding that you can drape over yourself lightly during a summer season when a cotton futon quilt meant for autumn and winter would be too hot. Since it's not quite as light as gauze, it's recommended for those who want a bit more weight. Being made of towel material, it absorbs sweat and moisture well.

Cons: Heavier than a gauze blanket. It absorbs sweat well, but since it's not as good at releasing moisture, it can feel heavy once it's absorbed water.

If you prefer the gentle feel of towel fabric against your skin, or if you tend to run your air conditioner on full blast (which can make you feel too cold), a towel blanket is probably the better choice.

Gauze Blanket

Pros: Extremely light. Highly breathable, it dries quickly whether you've sweated in it overnight or hung it out to dry after washing. Recommended for those who'd rather not run the air conditioner while sleeping if they can help it. It doesn't trap heat and moisture.

Cons: Towels absorb more moisture. Because it's light and cool, it's not really suited to people who tend to feel the cold.

If you're choosing bedding especially for spring through early summer, a gauze blanket is recommended over a towel blanket from the standpoint of breathability and moisture release. Among gauze blankets, look for ones that create a solid layer of air. Gauze with only one or two layers has almost no warmth-retaining ability, so gauze blankets made by layering three or four layers of gauze are the norm. The more layers stacked—four, five, or more—the warmer the blanket becomes, but this requires more skill and effort, so the price tends to be higher as well.

The ichiori gauze Gauze Blanket, Made in Mikawa, Aichi Prefecture—a Region Known for Cotton

Mikawa in Aichi Prefecture, home to ichiori gauze, has relatively little farmland and a comparatively mild climate, making it well-suited to cotton cultivation. Demand for cotton textiles grew especially strong there from the mid-Edo period onward, and it became a major production center. In recent years, as cheap overseas production has forced many textile makers out of business, this region has continued to maintain both its prices and its quality.

Five Layers of Gauze That Trap a Layer of Air

The ichiori gauze blanket has been made lighter still, so light it feels almost like air. If you look at its cross-section, it's immediately clear that it's made of five layers of fabric using various types of thread. By not using the same thread throughout, a layer of air is created between the layers, which is also what gives it good breathability and absorbency.

How to Use a Gauze Blanket

The gauze blanket feels fluffy and gently soft to the touch. The basic way to use it is to drape it over your body while you sleep, but there are other ways to use it too.

In summer... drape it over yourself during a nap. You can also spread it beneath your body in place of a sheet. It's also handy for babies' naptime.

People who sweat easily may worry about waking up to find their sheets damp with sweat. Sleeping with a gauze blanket spread beneath you means there's a layer of gauze between you and the futon, which feels crisp and pleasant, and you can quickly wash it whenever you're concerned about sweat.

It's also great for children's naptime, since kids tend to get things dirty. You can wash it thoroughly and it dries quickly, so it stays clean.

In winter... tuck it beneath your comforter to boost its warmth.

Gauze, which creates a layer of air, traps warmth when combined with other materials. It works much like the down filling in a comforter, making it useful in winter as well.

A Staff Member's Review of Using the Gauze Blanket

We received a review from a staff member who has been using the gauze blanket regularly.

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I bought the gauze blanket I'd been curious about all through the end of winter. I chose the color Rikyu (Beige)It's a good match for those late-winter-to-spring nights, when mornings and evenings are still often cold and the temperature keeps changing so much that I wasn't sure what to do about it. A blanket would be too warm even on chilly nights, so I tried tucking this gauze blanket between the comforter and my body, and I stopped waking up shivering in the morning. Once it gets warmer, I plan to use it on its own.

How did the gauze blanket change after washing?

--I started using it after washing it for the first time, and it suddenly became soft, with a fluffy, airy feel. Since it's gauze, vertical creases formed too, and I personally like that.

How many times a week do you wash it?

--I sweat a lot, so I wash it about three times a week. Compared to washing bedsheets, it's overwhelmingly easier, which surprised me. On a nice day in spring or summer, if I wash it and spin it dry, it's dry in about an hour. My regular dermatologist keeps telling me that if I want to get rid of skin irritation, I need to keep my bedding clean, so I'm glad I chose this gauze blanket, since it's so easy to wash.

Compared to when it's brand new, it gets this fluffy!

Is it convenient to use as a sheet?

--The maker recommends laying the gauze blanket on top of the futon mattress and using it as a sheet, but I was a little worried that if I moved around a lot in my sleep, it might get wrinkled. Even so, it stayed in place more than I expected. The futon has a relatively smooth cotton surface, and there seems to be a bit of friction against the gauze, so it doesn't slip much, which made it quite comfortable to use. I also like that when I use it as a cover, it doesn't slide right off.

Were there any other things you noticed while using it?

--Since it's gauze, I think you need to be careful about snagging it. You can wash it without hesitation, but you do need to use a laundry net. If your nails are long, it can get caught, and given the nature of gauze, it seems pillling or fraying can occur as well. Still, I think it's the kind of item that's meant to be used hard, so as long as you're careful with washing, I think it's fine not to worry too much about the small details. I sweat a lot on my hands and feet even outside of summer, so the gauze is a real help. I imagine I'll be using the air conditioner less often even in summer.

Now that I've actually tried it, I'm really satisfied. Personally, I'm thinking of giving it as a gift to a friend who's expecting a baby. Babies tend to get things dirty a lot, and apparently at daycare or kindergarten, you often need spares for nap time, so when I mentioned I might give a baby gift, she jokingly said she'd want a blanket like this. It's colorful and cute, but it doesn't have some big, flashy character design either, so it's easy to match with any room, and easy to give as a gift. The fresh, refreshing colors are really nice, aren't they.