ORIGAMI

Left, tsuzura (lid : pp. 12

15 ; base : pp. 16

18 1

Right, variation, a smaller tsuzura. Basically units are folded

almost in the same way as the larger one, except that you
begin with a diagonal instead of a line that divides side lines in
half.

Square boxes : below, bow knot; right, wheel ; above,

lightning (lid s : pp. 24

26 ; base : pp. 1 9 -2 3 ).

Lids of square boxes : with pinwheels on both sides

(pp. 3 4 -4 0 ).
The base below rig ht has the same pattern as on
P- 33.

Above, lid of a square box :

'lozenge' (pp. 2 7 -2 8 ).
Below, bases of a square
box : left to right, A ; ;
combination of A and
(pp. 3 0 -3 3 ).

Center, lid of a square box : 'fancy pinwheel' (pp. 4 143 ). The other four lids are variations and are folded
differently from on p. 36.

Above left, lid of an octagon box : 'little

flo w e r Cpp.44-46) made o f chiyogami
(colorful paper). Right, base (pp. 5 0 -5 4 ).
The box contains four folded inserts that
fit nicely.
Below, lid of an octagon box : double
stars (pp. 4 7 -4 9 ).

Triangle boxes (pp. 55-61

Above left, lid o f a hexagon box : 'six-petal plnwheel (pp. 62~

65 ; base : pp. 68~71). By devising d iffe re n t ways of folding,
you can make a seven- or eight-sided box.
Below, lid of a hexagon box : flower and sta r (pp. 66~67).

Contents
Preface

11

Signs used in the illu s tra tio n s

11

Lid of tsuzura (w ic k e r clo thes-box)

12

B a se of tsuzura

16

S q u a re b o x e s: first series

19

Lids of sq u are boxes

24

V a ria tio n : lozenge

27

Sq u a re b o x e s: second series

30

Lids of sq u are boxes with pinw heels on both sid e s

34

Lid of a sq ua re b o x : f a n c y pinwheel

41

Lid of an o cta g o n b o x : little flower

44

Lid of an o c ta g o n b o x : double s ta r s

47

B a se of an o c ta g o n

50

box

T ria n g le b o x : m edium size

55

T ria n g le box : larg e size

58

T ria n g le b o x : sm a ll size

60

Lid of a hexagon box with six-petal pinwheel

62

Lid of a hexagon b o x : flower and s t a r

66

B ase of a hexagon box

68

P ostscript

73

Lid of tsuzura
(wicker clothes-box)

1983

By fo ld in g according to A, you can

produce this pattern on the lid. is
plain. Both are made of two pieces
of paper.
(F o r the base of the box that
m atches these lids, see pp. 16- 18.)

M ark a fo ld in g line on
th e u p p er la ye r only.

12

13

>

\
/ \

____ ___ a

F old up to th e m ark,
m a tch in g m arks.

Fold th e upper
la ye r only.

M ake th e rig h t
side sta n d u p rig h t.

P le a t alo n g
th e lines
a lre a d y m arked.

F o ld a lo n g
th e c e n te r line.

14

F inishe d unit.

By changing the fo ld ing a little as illu stra te d , you can make a lid w ith a raised
point like the above photo. See if you can make it.

finished.
Jo in as in th e d ra w in g .

Push in till the bottom

fo rm s a square.

15

Base of tsuzura
C

1983

I am very fond of this crisp little

box. Its folds look so sim ple, but
try separating the units fo r a
frien d and ask them to reassem ble
the base of the box. Its quite a
brain teaser !

16

 join the units,

see the next page.

17

Finishe d unit.

J o in a s in th e d ra w in g .

The units w ith th e ir loose

flaps may be a little difficu lt
to join. See if you can do it
by ca re fu lly fo llo w in g the
illu stra tio n s.

Side p a tte rn , inside.

18

Square boxes : first series

1986

Left to right : 'lightning' (p. 23), bow knot' (p. 22), wheel (p. 21).

By just joining the same units d iffe re n tly you w ill find th a t new patterns
appear like magic. Here are two such patterns, and a th ird , a com bination
of the firs t two.
Both folding and jo in in g are very sim ple. We use fo u r units. L e t us firs t
fold the units as follows.

CD

Continued on
the next page.

19

F old up to th e

m ark.

3)

sid e s sta n d u p rig h t.

20

F in ish e d unit.

How to join the w heel units.

Pocket

Make su re w hich is th e
pocket, and w hich the tab.

Fix th e end by
fo ld in g it inside.

i N ote) It is easier to join

the four units first and then
fold and fix the ends.

O utside p a tte rn ,
r f

w h e e l .

Inside p a tte rn

21

How to join the bow knot units.

P ocket

Pocket
The u n it on p. 20.

R everse th e ta b and pocket

o f w h e e l on p. 21.

Fix th e end by
fo ld in g it inside.

O utside p a tte rn ,
'b ow k n o t .

Inside p a tte rn .

22

How to join the lig h tn in g units.

Unlike the w heel and bow kn o t, the units th a t make the 'lig h tn in g pattern
are joined by using both ends of two units as tabs, and both ends of
remaining two units as pockets.

Note Fix the ends like

the 'wheel' See p. 21).

O utside p a tte rn ,
lig h tn in g '.

23

Lids of square boxes

1986

Now let us make lids fo r the boxes we have made. As w ith the boxes, two
d iffe re n t lid patterns can be made from the same units, and th e ir
com bination makes a th ird pattern. The outside patterns of the lids match
those o f the boxes.
The jo in in g o f the th ird pattern is not illustrated, but it is the same as
the join in g of the lightning -p atterned box on p. 23.

24

Finished units.

For joining,
see the next page.

H>

Fold, m aking th e sides

sta n d u p rig h t as above.

Mark a fo ld in g
line on the
upper layer only.

25

Joining the wheel.

P a tte rns.
Inside.

O utside.

Lid of a square box. Variation : lozenge

At a certain point

((D), change

1986

the fo lding on page 25 slig h tly and you w ill

have a lid with a d iffe re n t pattern.

T urn over.

(!)

M ark a fo ld in g line
on th e u p p er la ye r only.

Continued on
the next page.

.........

27

90

Z.
M atch m arks.

Fold th e m arke d lin e to the

w ro n g side, up to th e m ark,
m a tch in g m arks in . Fold
on ly th e in n e r layers.

F in ish e d unit.

Join as in the drawing.

P a tte rn s.

28

'Bow knot' (p. 26).

'Lightning'-

'Wheel' (p. 26).

'Lozenge' (p. 28).

29

Square boxes : second series

1988

Fold as illustra ted . You can make three d iffe re n t patterns, A, and C. It is all
very sim ple, and such fun !

(2)

(D

30

Continued on
the next page.

31

Finishe d unit.

Join th e fo u r u n its in to a c irc le .

32

Left to right : . B.

Inside p a tte rn .

Lids of square boxes with pinwheels

on both sides

L e ft to right : combination of A and . B, A.

These lids have pinwheel p atte rn s inside and outside. The joined A- and B- types are
illu s tra te d here, but you can join the units so th a t you have d iffe re n t patterns inside
and out. You can also finish the main pattern in d iffe re n t ways. Experim ent !

34

36

O r d in a r y b o x e s h a v e no d e s ig n s on th e b o tto m o r in s id e
t h e ir lid s , b u t w ith u n it o r ig a m i y o u ca n m a k e b o x e s w ith
th e s e w o n d e rfu l p a tte r n s o n in n e r s u rfa c e s . T h e p le a s u re
o n f ir s t s e e in g th e s e c h a rm in g lit t le b o x e s in c re a s e s w h e n
yo u lo o k in s id e !

T h is d e lig h t in fin d in g u n e x p e c te d

p a tte r n s is th e r e s u lt o f u n it o rig a m i.

To join the units,

see the next page

=>>

F in ish e d unit.

37

38

[J o in in g : in sid e J

T he u n its can be
a sse m b le d w ith
tin y tip s lik e th e se on
th e o u tsid e.

Inside p a tte rn .

F inish th e inside
c e n ter as o u tsid e
O utside p a tte rn .

( 4 l Tuck th e end in the

fo ld m ade in

I .)

39

J o in in g tw o -s id e d p in w h e e l B.

[ J o in in g o u t s id e . ]

[ J o in in g in s id e .J

O u ts id e p a tte r n .

In s id e p a tte rn .

Lid of a square box : fancy pinwheel

98 8

To make this lid, you fold and join in alm ost the same way as has already
been done (pp. 34 4 0 ), but the result is som ething unique. For best effect,
use paper with one side colored d iffe re n tly than the other.

F rom 5$ on p. 36.

Continued on
the next page.

=>>

F in ish e d unit.

Join as in
the drawing.

To fin ish the ce n tra l

p a tte rn , see p. 38 39.

Lid of an octagon box : little flower

1983

(To fold the base, refer to p. 50.)

Now let us make an octagon lid, using fo u r units. When the lid is joined, the
w hite back of the paper appears in the center like a little flower, hence the
boxs name.

44

F inishe d unit.

Join as in the drawing.

F ix th e end by
fo ld in g it inside.

Jo in th e o th e r
tw o u n its in
th e sam e way.

46

Lid of an octagon box : double stars

1983

Fold the little flo w e r units inside out, and you w ill see the birth of tw in stars,
one colored, the other w hite. You can create such a change by ju st reversing
the folding. Such is the fascination of origam i ! The little flow er had the twin
stars hidden in it.

the next page.

=&

47

F old th e u p p er
la y e r only,
p la cin g a

Pull o u t
Open.

48

th e in n e r flap.

Join th e o th e r tw o u n its
in th e sam e way.

>

end by
it inside.

J o in as in th e d ra w in g .

49

Base of an octagon box

1988

The base o f th is box is ra th e r com plicated both to fold and to join. You fold and
unfold at many places. Proceed slowly and with patience, ca refully follow ing
the illustratio ns.

(D

Open.
Fold th e le ft side
to th e

50

m ark.

A narrow opening.
@
=t>
Continued on
the next page.

F old alo n g th e line

m arked in @ .

F old th e le ft sid e to lin e a.

Fold alo n g th e line

m arked in (D .

51


Fold th e le ft side along
lin e a and then unfold.

-\ V
Pleat, pla cin g
a a lo n g line b.

line p a ra lle l

to th e side.

Pull open

52

Continued on
the next page.

Open.

Pleat.

F inishe d unit.

[F in ish : inside.]

F ix th e ends,
b ending them
inside.
Good as it is.

Inside pattern of A.

54

Triangle box : medium size

1983

We seldom come across a tria n g le box, but with units o f folded paper we can
make w onderful ones. Let us make three such boxes of d iffe re n t sizes and use
larger ones as lids.

Continued on
the next page.

=>

55

M atch th e b ottom
le ft c o rn e r to the
to p line.
M ark th e fo ld in g line
and u n fo ld to .

th e d o tte d lin e s.

U n it o f th e m edium box fin ish e d .

(X3)

56

Large

Medium

Small

Midget

T h e s e illu s tr a tio n s s h o w a t a g la n c e h o w t r ia n g le b o x e s o f d if f e r e n t s iz e s a re
fo ld e d . B y c h a n g in g fo ld in g lin e s y o u c a n c h a n g e th e d e p th o f th e b o x, a n d th u s
m a k e b o x e s o f fo u r d iff e r e n t s iz e s , la rg e , m e d iu m , s m a ll a n d m id g e t, a ll o f
w h ic h c a n be n e a tly p la c e d o n e in s id e a n o th e r . T h is is d o n e w ith o u t c u tt in g th e
p a p e r, a n d th e fo ld in g in v o lv e s no s u c h a m b ig u ity as s lid in g a fo ld in g lin e ju s t a
lit t le . T r ia n g le b o x e s m a d e fr o m s q u a re p ie c e s o f p a p e r, b o x e s th a t c a n be
c o n ta in e d o n e in s id e a n o th e r, s u c h a re th e w o n d e rs o f o rig a m i !
F o ld in g o f M id g e t is n o t s h o w n h e re . T h e m e th o d is s im ila r to th e s m a ll
b o x. Y ou ca n m a ke it w ith o u t d iffic u lty .

J o in a s in th e d ra w in g .

Triangle box : large size

1983

<z>

M atch th e b o tto m rig h t

c o rn e r to th e c e n te r line.

(D

V
t

F old alo n g
lin e a in .

58

s'

Unit of large-sized box finished.

L ift.

the middle-sized box.

(See p. 57.)

F old 1 in

and

tuck inside.
Fold, m a tch in g th e d ivid e d
b o ttom lines, th e n unfold.

M ark th e fo ld in g line,
th e n u n fo ld to
w ith b fo ld e d as in ().
Fold, m atching
Divide the angle in half.

th e d o tted lines.

59

Triangle box:small size

1983

M atch th e b o tto m rig h t

c o rn e r to th e c e n te r line.

T u rn upside
down.

60

U n it o f sm a ll box fin ish e d .

Open.

Join th e u n its like

th e m id d le -size d box.

(S e e p. 5 7 .)

Fold, m atch in g the

Tuck inside.

divid e d bo ttom lines

and unfold.

Open.

M ark th e fo ld in g
lin e and u n fold to .
Fold, m atch in g the
d o tte d lines.

61

Lid of a hexagon box with six-petal

pinwheel <=,
Now let us make a hexagon
box. When the units are
assembled, the white
back of the paper appears
in a clear-cut flower
pattern.

62

M atch th e

m arks.
C ontin ued on
th e next page.

Pull o u t th e bo ttom piece

w ith o u t fo ld in g .

63

Fold th e upper
la ye r only.
half.
P osition
reve rse d .

R eturn

F old a lo n g th e line
m a rke d in @ and
u nfold.

U nfold.

Inside pattern.

O utside p a tte rn .
Pocket

Jo in th e six u n its
as illu s tra te d .

(N o te ) It is better to fold
and fix the ends after all
six units are joined.

Fix th e
by fo ld in g it
inside.

Pocket

Lid of a hexagon box : flower and star

Change the fo ld in g o f the

units of the six-petal
pinwheel box so th a t the
inside pattern o f the box
appears outside.

F ro m

on page 64.

R eturn

Tuck inside.

T urn
up sid e down.

F old 1 and
th e n open.

66

1988

Inside pattern.

( N ote) Like the six-petal

pinwheel, it is better to join
firs t and then fold the ends.

J o in th e u n its as
in th e d ra w in g .

F in ish e d unit.

67

Base of a hexagon box

C

1988

Now we are going to make the

bases fo r the two lids just
made. In order to match the
bases with the lids, the length
of its six sides must be made
shorter. The paper is folded up
to

on the next page with this

in mind. It is delicate work, so

go slowly and patiently.

68

69

70

Inside pattern.

Fix th e end by
fo ld in g it inside

P ocket
O utside p a tte rn .

J o in a s in th e d ra w in g .

Fold a lo n g the
line m arked in

and open.

X6)

F inishe d unit.

71

H e re is h o w to f o ld th e b a s e o f a h e x a g o n b o x n e a tly
w ith le s s tim e a n d tr o u b le .

th is fo ld in g
line.

W h e n f o ld in g th e b a se o f a h e x a g o n b o x, fo ld ju s t o n e s h e e t up to

on

p a g e 6 9 , u se it a s th e o r ig in a l p a tte r n , p la c in g o th e r s h e e ts o n it, a n d fo ld
th e m a c c o rd in g t o th e p a tte r n b e n e a th . T h is s a v e s tr o u b le . M o r e o v e r yo u do
a n e a t jo b w ith o u t f o ld in g u n n e c e s s a ry lin e s .

72