🎀 Noshi Label Generator (表書き Omotegaki for Gift Envelopes)

The noshi (のし, 熨斗) is the decorated strip and envelope wrapper used for Japanese gifts. On the front, the omotegaki (表書き) - the label line - tells the receiver what the gift is for. Writing the wrong label, using the wrong cord colour, or choosing the wrong knot is one of the most common Japanese etiquette mistakes, so a lookup table is genuinely useful:

The knot tells the story: musubi-kiri (結び切り) cannot be untied, so it marks occasions that should happen only once (weddings, funerals). cho-musubi (蝶結び) can be tied again, so it fits repeatable gifts (seasonal gifts, return gifts).

Choose the occasion and the tool returns the correct label, cord colour, knot type, and a placement note. The most common errors the generator catches:

For cash gifts, the label goes on the outer envelope, the amount (in old kanji) and your name on the inner one. Use our envelope kanji converter for the number line, and the wedding or condolence calculators for how much to give.

1. Choose the occasion from the list (wedding, birth, seasons, return gift, funeral, offering).
2. Read the correct omotegaki (label) text.
3. Check the cord colour and knot type.
4. Note placement: label top-centre, your name bottom-left.
5. For cash, also use the envelope kanji converter for the kanji amount line.

What is omotegaki (表書き)?

The label written on the front of a noshi or gift envelope that says what the gift is for - e.g. 御祝, 御中元, 御香典. It is written vertically at the top centre.

What is the difference between musubi-kiri and cho-musubi?

Musubi-kiri (結び切り) cannot be untied, so it marks one-time occasions like weddings and funerals. Cho-musubi (蝶結び) can be retied, fitting repeatable gifts like seasonal gifts and return gifts.

御霊前 or 御仏前 - which do I write?

御霊前 at the wake and funeral (while the body is present). 御仏前 after the funeral, at the grave and for later memorial services. In some regions 御香典 is used for the funeral money itself.

Can I use red-and-white cord for a funeral?

No. Funeral envelopes use black-and-white (or gold-and-silver) cords. Red-and-white is for celebratory occasions.

What is 内祝?

内祝 (uchi-iwai) is a return gift marking a celebration - for example when a baby is born, the family may send 内祝 gifts to those who congratulated them. Label: 内祝 or 内祝御出産.

What label do I use for omiyage (souvenirs)?

Omiyage usually needs no noshi at all - plain wrapping is fine. If you add one, 御礼 (thanks) is safe for thank-you gifts.

Write the label in a vertical line at the top centre of the envelope, your name at the bottom-left in slightly smaller characters. On a noshi-gami (wrapper for boxes), the label sits above the red and white strip. For 御霊前 vs 御仏前: use 御霊前 at the wake and funeral (before burial), 御仏前 after the funeral and at later memorials. For omiyage and casual gifts, plain paper with no noshi is acceptable. Regional shops and convenience stores sell pre-printed noshi-gami for every common occasion - when in doubt, ask staff. See the life-event guide for the full ceremony checklist, and pair envelopes with the correct amount from our longevity celebration calculator for 60th/70th/77th/88th birthdays.