Citarape (Straw Mat with Bracket Patterns)
In traditional Ainu homes, citarape (straw mats) are used for many purposes. The thin, woven mats can act as a covering for floors or walls, and are often used to cover the display shelf for a home’s treasured objects. They are also used to wrap the dead before burial. Most citarape have a bracket pattern woven into them, one of the protective patterns used for Ainu household goods and items of clothing.