A is a type of decorative fabric panel used on various occasions in Japan

Japan

Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

. The fabric takes its name from its design of vertical red and white stripes, which is known as kōhaku. Kōhaku maku panels are hung from a red and white striped rope.

Kōhaku maku are hung against walls on to give a festive appearance on formal occasions such as graduation ceremonies, but are also used on less formal occasions such as outdoor tea ceremonies

Japanese tea ceremony

The Japanese tea ceremony, also called the Way of Tea, is a Japanese cultural activity involving the ceremonial preparation and presentation of matcha, powdered green tea. In Japanese, it is called . The manner in which it is performed, or the art of its performance, is called...

 and hanami

Hanami

is the Japanese traditional custom of enjoying the beauty of flowers, "flower" in this case almost always meaning cherry blossoms or ume blossoms. From the end of March to early May, sakura bloom all over Japan, and around the first of February on the island of Okinawa...

 flower viewing picnics to mark off or decorate spaces.

A type of fabric with a similar pattern in black and white is used for wakes

Wake (ceremony)

A wake is a ceremony associated with death. Traditionally, a wake takes place in the house of the deceased, with the body present; however, modern wakes are often performed at a funeral home. In the United States and Canada it is synonymous with a viewing...

.