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Last updated 5/12/2024

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Two of the pages have folded paper figures glued to them, one a Flying Crane and the other an Elephant.

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Introduction

The designs in this work are a mix of traditional designs with original designs by the author and Akira Yoshizawa. However, the author appears to be unaware that many of the traditional designs are ultimately of European, rather than Japanese, origin.

While the author does not attribute any designs to Yoshizawa in this work, we can do so by comparing it to Honda's earlier work, 'Origami Shuko'. Those designs attributed to Yoshizawa in 'Origami Shuko' which appear without attribution in this work are: 1. 'A Yacht', 116. 'A Wild Goose' and 129. 'Combinations of the Diamond-shapes'.

The only designs which the author specifically claims as his own are 131.'A Dragonfly of 'Kanomado'' and 132. 'A Baby Turtle', of which he says:

However, it seems likely that the majority of the other designs in the book which are not known from any other source than the author's various works, are also of his own devising. Inter alia, he states in the Foreword (see below) that he spent time 'inventing new origami of my own'.

In particular, Honda claimed that he originated the technique of making compound designs from two bird bases glued together. For full details see discussion on the 'Origami Shuko' source page.

In his later book 'The World of Origami', which was published in English by Japan Publications Trading Company in 1965, Honda specifically claims that the compound designs in this book for the Eagle, Dragon, Giraffe, Crocodile (or Alligator) and Three Wise Monkeys are his own original creations.

There is no reason to believe that the other compound animal designs are not his own original creations as well. Beyond this, it is likely that many of the other designs, particularly those which first, and only, appear in his own books, are also Honda's creations. However, lacking any direct claim from him that this is the case, it is difficult to prove.

There are four parts of the work, the dust jacket, the Foreword, the Preface and the introduction to chapter VII - 'The Background of Origami' which provide information about Isao Honda and his view of the true nature and history of origami.

Information which relates to the author's life and his view of the true nature of origami has been carried over to the page about The Paperfolding of Isao Honda.

Information that relates to the history of paperfolding or specific designs has been carried over to the relevant Source and Individual Design pages.

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Reference here to origami as 'The Finest Hand Art in the World' is probably to paperfolding as a means of promoting manual dexterity in children within the French educational syatem.

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Analysis

Designs from Square Paper

1. A Yacht - The Yacht

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2. A Piano - The Piano

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3. A Soldier Cap

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4. A House - The Japanese House

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5. A Sailboat / Trick Boat - The Boat with Sail

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6. A Flower Pattern / Photo Frame - The Flower-Pattern Photo-Frame

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7. A Winnow Tray - The Winnowing Box

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8. A Measuring Box - The Blintz Box

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9. A Pin-wheel - The Bi-colour Windmill

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10. A Flower-shape Box - a variant of The Spanish Box

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11. A Water Lily - The Waterlily

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12. An O-Sanbo (1) - The Sanbo

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13. An O-Sanbo (2) - The Sanbo-on-Legs

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14. A Paper Cup - The Paper Cup

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15. A Cap - The Paper Cup Cap

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16. A Hat - The Paper Cup Hat

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17. A Samurai Helmet - The Long-Horned Kabuto

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18. A Goldfish (1) - The Cut Goldfish

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19. A Flying Bird - The Carrier Pigeon

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20. A Paper Balloon - The Waterbomb

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21. A Lily - The Lily

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22. A Square Basic Form

This is just the Preliminary Fold.

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23. A Morning-Glory - The Morning Glory

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24. A Star-Shape Box - The Star-shaped Box

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25. A Square-Shape Box - The Cake Box

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26. A Flower Vase - The Hibachi

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27. A Boat - The Fishing Boat

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28. A Motor-Boat - The Sampan

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29. An Octangular Case

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30. A Turtle Case - The Novelty Purse

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31. A Folded Sack - The Puzzle Purse

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32. A Cube Box - The Tematebako

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33. A Hexagonal Box - The Hexagonal Tematebako

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34. Triangular and Hanging Ornaments of the Hexangular Box

Triangular Ornament - The Woven Star of David

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Hanging Ornament

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35. A Flying Pigeon - The Dove

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36. A Tulip - Honda's Compound Tulip

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37. A Swan - The Simple Swan

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38. A Mandarine Duck - The Mandarin Duck

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39. A Seal - The Fish-Base Seal

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40. A Sea Gull (1) - The Simple Duck

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41. A Penguin - The Fish-Base Penguin

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42. A Lobster - The Cut Shrimp

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43. A Snail

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44. A Basic Form

This is the Bird Base

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45. A Crane - The Paper Crane

The instructions say the Crane should be inflated by blowing into the hole in the bottom.

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46. A Flying Heron - The Cut Flying Heron

The legs are separated using a cut.

The instructions also show how to use a cut to create a crest, although this crest is not shown in the final drawing.

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47. A Nesting Crane - The Nesting Crane

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48. A Hen - The Hen with Legs

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49. A Crow - The Crow with Legs

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50. A Pheasant - The Bird-Base Pheasant

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51. A Canary - The Cut Canary

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52. A Nightingale - The Cut Nightingale

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53. A Pigeon - The Pigeon

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54. A Peacock (Compound Cut Design) - Honda's Peacock

The crest is created using a cut.

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55. A Peahen - The Peahen

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56. An Ostrich - The Ostrich

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57. A Standing Heron

The crest is created using a cut.

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58. A Standing Crane - The Standing Crane

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59. A Turkey

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60. A Cochin

Cochin is a breed of chicken.

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61. A Flying Crane - The Cut Flying Crane

The legs are separated using a cut

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62. An Owl - The Cut Owl

The legs are separated using a cut.

The ears are created using cuts.

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63. A Swallow - The Cut Swallow

The two parts of the tail are separated using a cut

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64. A Turtle - The Cut Bird Base Turtle

A cut is used to separate the back legs.

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65. A Dragonfly (Cut) - The Cut Dragonfly

Cuts are used to separate the front and back wings.

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66. A Cicada

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67. A Fish - The Cut Bird-Base Fish

The two parts of the tail are separated using a cut.

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68. A Gold fish (2) - The Cut Bird-Base Goldfish

The two parts of the tail are separated using a cut.

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69. A Frog - The Inflatable Frog

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70. An Octopus - The Inflatable Octopus

The legs are separated using cuts.

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Compound Designs from two squares

71. A Dog - Honda's Compound Dog

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72. A Horse (Cut) - Honda's Compound Horse

The ears are created using a cut.

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73. A Winged-Horse (Cut) - Honda's Compound Pegasus

The wings are created and separated using cuts.

The ears are created using a cut.

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74. A Kangaroo (Cut) - Honda's Compound Kangaroo

The ears are created using a cut.

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75. A Cat (Cut) - Honda's compound cat

The ears are created using cuts.

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76. A Monkey - Honda's Compound Monkey

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77. A Rabbit (Cut) - Honda's Compound Rabbit

The ears are created using a cut.

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78. A Goat (1) - Honda's Compound Goat

The horns are created using cuts.

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79. A Deer - Honda's Compound Deer

The horns are created using cuts.

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80. A Fox - Honda's Compound Fox

The ears are created using a cut.

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81. A Hyena - Honda's Compound Hyena

The ears are created using a cut.

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82. A Badger - Honda's Compound Badger

The ears are created using a cut.

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83. A Fur-seal - Honda's Compound Seal

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84. A One-Hump Camel - Honda's Compound Camel

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85. A Tiger - Honda's Compound Tiger

The teeth and the ears are created using cuts.

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86. A Rat - Honda's Compound Rat

The ears are created using a cut.

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87. A Lion - Honda's Compound Lion

The ears are created using a cut.

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88. An Elephant - Honda's Compound Elephant

The ears are created using a cut.

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89. A Rhinocerous - Honda's Compound Rhinocerous

The ears are created using a cut.

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90. A Hippopotamus - Honda's Compound Hippopotamus

The ears are created using a cut.

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91. A Pig - Honda's Compound Pig

The ears are created using a cut.

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92. A White Bear - Honda's Compound Polar Bear

The ears are created using cuts.

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93. A Bear - Honda's Compound Bear

The ears are created using a cut.

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94. A Walking Bear - Honda's Compound Standing Bear

The ears are created using a cut.

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95. A Cow - Honda's Compound Cow

The ears are created using a cut.

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96. A Water Buffalo - Ho9nda's Compound Water Buffalo

The horns and ears are created using cuts

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97. A Goat (2) - Honda's Compound Baby Goat

The ears are created using a cut.

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98. A Sheep - Honda's Compound Sheep

The ears are created using a cut.

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99. A Crab - Honda's Compound Crab

The legs on both parts of the design are separated using cuts.

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100. A Girl

The shape of the girl's face is cut out in the upper piece, then a separate face is pasted over it.

The tennis raquet is cut from a separate piece of paper.

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Designs from Rectangular Paper

101. An Airplane (1) - The Missile

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102. An Airplane (2) - The Japanese Dove

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103. A Hood - a version of Le Bonnet Carre

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104. A Waste paper Basket - Le Bonnet Carre

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105. A Popper - The Paper Banger

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106. A Kimono - The Kimono

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107. A Ring - The Ring

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108. A Folding Box - The Collapsible Box

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109. A Teapot-Stand - The Teapot Stand

The text says 'The Japanese formerly used this as a teapot-stand'.

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110. A Purse (1) - The Business Card Holder

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111. A Purse (2) - The Three-Piece Purse

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Designs from Triangular Paper

112. A Sea Gull (2) - The Seagull

From a right angle isosceles triangle.

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113. A Locust - The Locust

From a right angle isosceles triangle.

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114. An Iris (1) - The Iris

From an equilateral triangle.

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115. An Iris - The Cut Iris

From an equilateral triangle. Cuts are used to shape the petals.

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116. A Wild Goose - The Wild Goose

From an equilateral triangle.

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117. A Crawfish - The Cut Lobster

From an equilateral triangle. Cuts are used to separate the two parts of the claws.

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118. A Duck (1) and 119. A Duck (2) - The Standing Duck

From equilateral triangles.

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120. A Goose - The Standing Goose

From an equilateral triangle.

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121. An Eagle - Honda's Compound Eagle

Made from two equilateral triangles.

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122. A Cock - Honda's Compound Cock

Made from two equilateral triangles.

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123. A Dragon - Honda's Compound Dragon

Made from two equilateral triangles.

The horns and whiskers are created using cuts.

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Designs from Diamond-shaped Paper

124. A Bat - The Cut Bat

Made from a 60/120 degree rhombus.

The ears are created using cuts.

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125. A Parrot - The Parrot

Made from a 60/120 degree rhombus.

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126. A giraffe - Honda's Compound Giraffe

Made from two 60/120 degree rhombii.

The horns are created using cuts.

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127 A Crocodile - Honda's Compound Crocodile

Made from two 60/120 degree rhombii.

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128. 'Three Monkeys' - Honda's Compound Three Monkeys

Each monkey is made from two 60/120 degree rhombii.

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129. Combinations of the Diamond-shapes

Made using a module folded from a 60/120 degree rhombus.

(Although not attributed here this design is by Akira Yoshizawa.)

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Designs from Hexagonal and Octagonal Paper

130. A Hexangular Basic Form

This is effectively a six-pointed bird base folded from a hexagon.

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131. A Dragonfly of 'Kanomado'

Folded from 'A Hexangular Basic Form'.

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132. A Baby-turtle

Folded from 'A Hexangular Basic Form'.

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133. A Hexangular Incense Case - The Hexagonal Rosette

Folded from a hexagon.

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134. An Octangular Incense Case

Folded from an octagon.

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135. A Crab (2) - The Kan No Mado Crab

From a slit-square.

This design uses matchsticks for eyes.

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The Background of Origami

136. A pair of 'Dairibina' (Cut) - Hina Dolls

Multiple cuts are used in these designs.

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137. A Korean Junk - The Chinese Junk

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138. A 'Kago' (Palanquin) - The Sedan Chair

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139. A 'Noshi' - Noshi

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This following text is from a page that is unnumbered in the book and inserted between pages 176 and 177. The first sentence seems to contine from the end of the first paragraph of the description of the Kago (see above), although that sentence was already continued on page 177.

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Ribbon Folding

This section appears to have been added to the book at a late stage, perhaps to bulk it out.

Untitled - The Froebelian Occupation of Flechten - Free Weaving

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Untitled - The Paper Rosette

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