Japanese pottery boxes (Tomo-Bako or Awase-Bako) are a work of art and increase the value of the pottery piece. 

A master craftsman usually makes the box, smoothing the surface and joining it with wooden nails or just by joinery alone to other parts.  

The box also has calligraphy written on the box lid by the potter that includes information such as: style, kiln, form, year, and glaze. 

The potter's signature seal is usually stamped in the lower left corner of the box lid. 

Sometimes a piece of folded paper (Washi) will be placed over the lid to protect the calligraphy. 

The box is tied with a ribbon (Sanada-Himo or Hako-Himo) to keep the lid in place and to add class to the box. 

Please keep the box that your pottery came in and protect it from damage.

Before tying a ribbon :
Make sure the wood grain of the lid matches the grain along the corner edges of the box.
If the box has a paper cover, the folded corners should be at the front and back of the box lid.

紐を結ぶ前の確認：
箱と蓋の木目を合わせて下さい。蓋に箱書きがある場合は写真のように前面が手前に来るようにしておきます。
もし和紙が付属している場合は、折り目が前と後ろに来るようにします。

1.Make a cross at the bottom of the box with the ribbon as shown in photograph #1.
The ends of the ribbon should be of equal length.
If there is calligraphy on the lid, the loop should be at the upper left corner of the lid.

1.箱の底で写真（＃1）のように紐を交差させます。

2.When step #1 is finished, the top of the box should look like photograph #2.
2.①の手順を済ますと箱の表は写真②のようになります。

3.Bring the right-hand ribbon end over the top of the loop and then pass the ribbon end under the loop as shown in photograph #3.
3.右側の紐を、①で作った紐の輪に上から通します。

4.Bring the other ribbon end (lower ribbon) over the loop and pass it under the loop as shown in photograph #4. 
Adjust the ribbons so that the ribbon intersection is at the center of the box.

４．下側の紐を再び輪の上から通します。
紐の交点が箱の中央になるように紐を調整します。

5.Make a loop with the lower left ribbon at the center of the box (ribbon intersection).
５．左下の紐を交点の上で輪になるように折り曲げて重ねます。

6.Bring the upper right ribbon over the loop formed in #5
６．右上の紐を上部から下部に持ってきます。

7. Make a bowknot with the ribbon end from #6 around the ribbon loop from #5.
７．左下の二重にした紐と、＃６の紐で蝶結びを作ります。

8.The completed bow should look like this.
８．蝶結びの形を整えたら出来上がりです。