"Wrapping": the hallmark of Japanese culture to be polite

One of the most important manners for Japanese, is to wrap anything up when you give something to someone.
If you give something to something except for business documents without wrapping, it is a breach of manner.

Let me explain the level of politeness of envelope.

You have to pick a right envelope for the purpose or situation.
Especially happy event envelopes for marriage are so well decorated.
The level of gorgeousness corresponds to the money inside.

Let me show you the level of gorgeousness of envelope here.

And for the perfect politeness, you must use unused money to show respect.

These consideration, decoration and wrappings are necessary to show respect in Japan.

When you buy something as a gift, you have to wrap it up with paper.
It is so necessary. Without even paper wrapping, it is simply rude to give it to someone.

But don't worry, clerk will do instead of you if you buy a gift at department store or some semi formal to formal store.

When you buy a gift at department store in Japan, they will give you paper wrapping first if you ask it to clerk.

And then, you should say

"Noshi gami, onegaishimasu (のし紙お願いします)."

And they probably ask your name and the purpose of the gift.
After you answer these question, they ask you another question.

Do you want Noshi paper inside or outside the paper wrapping.
「外のし、と内のし、どちらがいいですか？」
Usually you can choose, 外のし (Outside).

After purchase you can move on to Furoshiki wrapping if you really want to be polite.

There is also ways to wrap up 2 bottles.
You can check the video as follows.

Surprisingly you can use, Furoshiki to wrap up a watermelon or a melon.
Usually it is very hard to carry big watermelon. But if you wrap it up, its easy to carry and looks so fashionable.