Origami: How to fold a “Toshi-zuru” (Happy Crane)

Today, I’ll show

you how to fold “Toshi-zuru” (Happy Crane) with origami paper.

You can decorate this origami

when you have a happy occasion.

You have various ways of enjoying origami!

You can use them on the special occasions

such as a New Year’s event or the longevity ceremony!

If you fold them with gold origami paper

and decorate them on New Year’s Day,

it’ll be even more gorgeous!

【Reference Article】How to fold a Crane

How to fold a happy crane 1 A happy crane for longevity

1. Fold it in half four times and make four creases along the dotted lines.

2. Fold both corners behind, along the dotted lines.

3. Fold it in half.

4. Fold it along the dotted line and make a crease.  Fold it inside,

as picture No.5 shows.

5. Fold it along the dotted line and make a crease.

6. Open the bag part and fold it as if you smash it, as picture No.7 shows.

7. Do the same thing for the back side too.

8. Fold the right corner along the dotted line and make a crease.

Open the colored part and fold it as if you smash it, as picture No.9 shows.

9.  Turn it over and change the direction.

10. Open it from the top part and fold it along the dotted lines.

11. Turn it over.

12. Turn it over.

13. Fold it along the dotted line, as if you cover it.

14. Fold the right tip along the dotted line and make a crease.

Fold it inside, as picture No.15 show.

15. Fold the head part along the dotted line and fold it inside,

as picture No.16 shows.

16. Fold it along the dotted line and spread it, as picture No.17 shows

17. Fold both corners along the dotted lines.

18. And it’s done!

How to fold a happy crane 2 Fan-shaped happy crane

1. Fold it in half four times and make four creases along the dotted lines.

2. Fold both corners behind, along the dotted lines.

3. Fold it in half.

4. Fold it along the dotted line and make a crease.

Fold it inside, as picture No.5 shows.

5. Fold it along the dotted line.

6. Open the bag part and fold it along the dotted line,

as picture No.7 shows.

7. Do the same thing for the other side too.

8. Fold it and make a crease along the middle line.

9. Open the bag part and fold it as if you smash it.

10. Do the same thing for the other three parts too.

11. Turn it over and open the bag part and fold it as if you smash it.

12. Open the bag part and fold it as if you push it down.

13. Fold it in half.

14. Fold it along the dotted line as if you cover It.

15. Fold it along the dotted line and fold it inside,

as picture No.16 shows.

16. Fold both corners and make creases along the dotted lines.

17. Do the same things for the back side too.

18. Using the crease, fold it inside.

19. Spread the wing.

20. And it’s done!

How to fold a happy crane 3 Happy crane for decoration

1. Fold it in half four times and make four creases along the dotted lines.

2. Fold it using the creases.

3. Fold both sides to the middle and make creases.

(Put the side with a couple layers down)

4. Open it toward the top side and fold it, as picture No.5 shows.

5. Turn it over.

6. Fold and make a crease, along the dotted line.

7. Open the bag part and fold it as if you smash it.

8. Fold it to the middle line, along the dotted line and make a crease.

9. Open the bag part and fold it as if you smash it.

10. Do the same things for the left side too.

11. Put it to the right side.

12. Fold it the same way for the left side too.

13. Fold it down along the dotted line.

14. Fold it in half.

15. Fold it as if you cover it.

16. Fold it and make a crease along the dotted line and fold it inside.

17. Spread the wings.

18. And it’s done!

19. When you spread it, you can put something in it too!

We’ve made some happy cranes!

They will be even more beautiful and gorgeous

if you use gold or silver colored origami

or “chiyogami” (Japanese traditional paper)

or even origami with “Yuzen” (a kind of dyeing) pattern,

instead of using regular origami paper.

You can put something in the wing part

after you spread it for a happy crane for decoration.

Why don’t you put something like “Kagami-mochi” (a round rice cake) in it?

【Translated by　 Kana Toda PIERCE】