A makimono is a Japanese scroll with pictures or calligraphy.
A makimono is intended to be held in the hands and unrolled from right to left while being examined.
Everything from art, letters and even books were written on makimonos. The ninjas or spies of Edo Japan used such scrolls to transmit intelligence. There are many surviving "secret" makimono from classical times (17-19th cetury). They describe many subjects including martial arts theory (budo), religion (zen) and even cooking.
More recently, the word makimono has been used to describe a genre of rolled sushi with seaweed or some other paper thin ingridient. Normally, makimono-sushi is rolled with nori.
Not being terribly fond of sushi, my favourite makimono-style sushi is a california roll.