Origami: How to fold a Shishimai (Lion Dance)

“Shishimai”, which people put on lions’ heads (or costumes),

is one of the traditional events held in the beginning of the year.★

Even though they look a little scary,

it’s said that you can live happily and be in good health!

Why don’t you decorate this lucky item,

Shishimai in your room on New Year’s Day?

How to fold Shishimai ver1

１．First, fold it in half.

２．Fold it in half again.

３．Open it up and fold both sides to the middle crease.

４．Fold both sides up, so that you can see the white inner parts.

５．Turn it over and fold both sides along the dotted lines.

６．It will be like the picture below.

７．Cut them along the dotted lines with scissors.

８．Open the top parts, like the picture below.

９．Flip it over, and the face is done!

10．Now, we will fold the body part.  Fold it in half.

11．Fold the right corner behind, like the picture below.

12．Put the face and body together, and it’s done!

How to fold Shishimai ver2

１．First, fold it in half.

２．Put it back and fold the bottom part up, like the picture below.

３．Fold the top part down to the line that you made in No.2.

４．Fold the edge up,

so that you can see the white inner part, like the picture below.

５．Fold the edge down to the line, like the picture below.

６．Open it up except the bottom part.

Divide it into three parts and make creases, like the picture below.

７．Fold both sides behind, along the dotted lines.

８．Fold the top part down, along the dotted line.

９．It will be like the picture below.

10．Fold both corners up, like the picture below.

11．Open the triangle parts and fold them, like the picture below.

12．Fold the back layer of the top part behind, along the dotted line,

as picture No.13 shows.

13．Fold both sides behind, along the dotted lines.

14．It will be like the picture below.

15．Fold both top corners down, like the picture below.

And the face is done!

16．Now, we will make the body part.  Fold it in half.

17．Fold it in half again.

18．Open it up and fold both sides to the middle crease.

19．Fold both sides to the middle crease again.

20．Open it up all the way,

and fold the bottom part along the dotted line.

21．It will be like the picture below.

22．Fold both sides so that the corners stick out,

like the picture below.

23．Fold the top part down, along the dotted line.

24．It will be like the picture below.

25．Fold both sides so that the corners stick out, again.

26．Fold it in half, and the body is done!

27．Put the face and the body together, and it’s done!

It becomes very powerful, if you draw the face.♪

The expression differs, according to the width when you fold the mouth part.

Why don’t you try various kinds of Shishimai?

It will be like a real Shishimai

if you draw the arabesque pattern on the body too.♥

Everybody will like it if you make your original Shishimai

as the design of a New Year’s card too!

【Translated by　 Kana Toda PIERCE】