Owl – Designed by Kyohei Katsuta

when I first saw this model was in a Russian origami magazine, < ІІ ОТКрЫТая Всероссийская Олимпиада По Оригами >, which roughly translate to < Opening of the II All-Russian Olympiad on Origami >, published in 2008.

The design released in this book is a CP with pictorial folding instruction. Apparently , this is a 24×24 grid design.

CP – Owl (24×24) Designed by Kyohei Katsuta

Kyohei Katsuta has released another simpler design in < Origami Tanteidan Convention 17 > published in 2011, using a 20×20 grid.

I got confused when I first started folded the model from the CP (24×24). As the pictorial instructions are highly simplified, I did some cross reference on the folding instruction between the 2 books, not knowing the differences in the grid specification. This resulted me folded and refolded twice before I finally got it right.

The main difference between the 2 designs is on the head. The 24×24 grid design has a much detail and life like head features, including the eyes and beak.

Close up view on the Owl head
(24×24 grid design)

Other than that, the wings and feet are the same.

Close up view of the owl’s wing
(24×24 grid design)

Close up view of the owl’s feet
(24×24 grid design)

After a good shaping and setup for the photo shoot, here’s the final results.

Owl (24×24 grid) – Designed by Kyohei Katsuta

The back of the design is equally spectacular…..

A back view of the spreader wing owl

Here’s a close up static view of the owl landing…

The Owl has landed

An action shot with the sky as the background.

Owl – Designed by Kyohei Katsuta

Shibaraku Head – designed by Hojyo Takashi

Shibaraku – a simple Japanese phrase which literally means “wait for a moment”. But it’s a daily use phrase in Japan when you just want everyone to sudden stop and have all attention focus on you or something. It has a similar effect like the English language “just hold on for a moment” or “waitha’ minute”.

But this phrase has crept its way to the famous Japanese theater show (or Kabuki, something like Shakespeare’s  play write) and now is a must see for every Kabuki performance. It didn’t originate from any of the Kabuki main program, but from the interlude between the main show.  These interlude is mainly on stories of a samurai named Kamakura Gongorō Kagemasa.  This theatrics character is often dressed in elaborate samurai outfit, strong highlight makeup with red-and-white stripes, and move on stage with high energy. And When he make his entrance to the stage, he will release out a loud cry “… Shibaraku!!”. (full details of Shibaraku can be found in these 2 links. Link1 , Link2)

“Shibaraku!”, cried Kamakura Gongorō Kagemasa

Takashi has designed an origami model just to capture the exact spirit of this character. He first release the CP of the full Shibaraku model in Origami Tanteidan Magaxine (issue #59 in 2000).

Pg 34 of Origami Tanteidan Magazine issue#59 – CP challenge of Shibaraku

After a good 10 years, Takashi finally release the full folding instruction of the head of this famous samurai in Origami Tanteidan Magazine (issue #119 in 2010).

Head of Shibaraku full folding instructions in Origami Tanteidan Magazine

Folding the head design is pretty straight forward. Not much tips I can provide here but do drop me a note if you still find it difficult to get through some of the steps.

Here is my presentation of the iconic model of Takashi….

Shibaraku Head – designed by Hojyo Takashi

Maitreya – designed by Hojyo Takashi

When it comes to ULTRA SUPER COMPLEX human form origami model designer in Japan, I would say Hojyo Takashi is among the best. His design now only captured the the human form in good proportion and anthropometric ratio, but also include much details to the human features.

The Maitreya model is a very early design published in Origami Tanteidan Convention Book Vol. 4 back in 1998.I first folded this model almost 10 years ago and was really excited and amaze on the intricacy of the design then. Hojyo more recent design has even move up another level now, but these model mostly are released in CP format. Hence to fold Hojyo’s model, the folder needs to be very experienced. (follow this link to see more of Hojyo’s work).

The Maitreya model is considered quite an easy model to fold. Folding the first 87 steps to get the base is less than 2 hrs job. Although there is a slight difficulty at step 17 and 18 (diagram seem to be misprinted), but it is not difficult to execute the necessary fold judging from the diagram before and after. Once finished step 94, this is what you get.

Base fold of Maitreya

Then come the next 12 steps which just guide you on shaping. Again, different folder will shape the model differently and my interpretation of  the model are as follows:

Maitreya – designed by Hojyo Takashi

Cerberus 1.1 – designed by Satoshi Kamiya (3)

Folding the 3 dog heads seems to be the biggest challenge for this model, but no one would expect the next part of the model is equally difficult…. folding of the foot.

The in-out folds of the front leg gets a bit confusing at first and I have to fold and unfold 3 times before I finally got the in-out fold sequence. Then the next is to form the 4 toes on each foot. The diagram show a big and clear foot drawing which look so simple and direct to fold. But only the folder knows that the actually foot is so much smaller and folding the toes is virtually impossible by just using bare finger nails. Hence I have to bring out the pair of tweezers to help pinch out the toe one by one.

The front left leg

New the not so good  news is…. I have to do it 2 times.

Folding the pair of hind legs is a more straight forward routine. Then comes the part  where you have to put your creativity to work – shaping. Again, to get the model into stay in the pose I wanted, cloths peg were used to ‘pinch’ and hold the various part in position.

After an overnight of ‘setting’, this is my final model of the Cerberus…

Cerberus – designed by Satoshi Kamiya (Side view)

Cerberus – designed by Satoshi Kamiya

Cerberus 1.1 – designed by Satoshi Kamiya (2)

Continue from the last post, the next 10 odds steps is just as easy. But the intermediate figure looks more like a seal than anything else.

Completion of the Base

I’m so excited when it comes to step 95 as this is going to the start of folding the fierce looking dog head. The open sink to form the various layer for the ears, eyes, nose and teeth are still manageable. You will find it very satisfying by the time you completed the upper jaw and nose.

Semi-completed dog head

By the time you finished the lower jaw at step 119, a highly detail dog head appears right before your eyes. Then you realized that you will have to fold the same tedious steps two times over again!!

Close up on the first finished dog head

Finally with much determination, I complete the other 2 dog heads.

  Completion of the 3 dog heads

That it leave me with only the 4 legs to deal with.  : )

Cerberus 1.1 – designed by Satoshi Kamiya (1)

This model was published in Tanteidan Convention 15. This is a annual publication by the Origami House, which show case original origami models by Japanese and design all over the world.

The Cerberus is a mythical creature described in the Greek and Roman literature as a multi-headed hound which guards the gate of the underworld.  The most popular version of the Cerberus is a 3 headed dog, but there are others sources claiming to have more.

The Cerberus model designed by Satoshi depicts the 3 headed version. Therefore compared to other models, it is 3 times more difficult as every details on the head design would have to repeat folding 3 times!

I am using brown paper to fold this model. Do not be folded by the boring outlook of this humble papyrus use mostly for packing parcels in local post office. It turns out to be more resilience to the folding torture which this complex model have to offer. As usual, the 31 steps are basically ‘precision creasing’.

Creasing on the brown paper…

Model collapsing in the next 6 steps is not much of a challenge to many by now.

The simple ones…

By the next 40 steps, the paper has reduced to only about 1/8 of the paper size with all of them folded nicely in between the layers.

Side view of Step 72

Ancient Dragon – designed by Satoshi Kamiya (1)

Whenever one mentioned Satoshi’s work, Ancient Dragon would be on top of the list. How can any origami enthusiast miss out on this classical folding challenge. (you can find the instruction in the book: Works of Satoshi Kamiya 1995 – 2003)

The first thing to do is to get a big sheet of thin paper. Remember the Large paper I mentioned the other day, it s just right for a good size to fold this model.

The large paper salvaged from the packing material of IKEA’ s DIY furniture.

This paper is actually the packaing paper you would normally find in the DIY furniture purchased from IKEA. It is quite durable except it tends to stretch over time during folding and it become more difficult to fold accutrately in the later steps. This one I got measured 73cm square.

After all the creasing, folding, unfolding, collapsing, sinking…. this is what you will get at step 150….

Ancient Dragon at step 150

It looks pretty harmless from the photo, but mind you, this is a super complex model to fold and this is just the begining.

(… con’t Part 2)

Inoshishigami (Divine Boar) – designed by Satoshi Kamiya

Here is another great model designed by Satoshi. Again, the model is folded with EH….

Inoshishigami – designed by Satoshi

Inoshishigami in the ‘Ice Cave’

 You may find the diagram for this great model in “Works of Satoshi 1995 – 2003” published by Origami House, Japan.

Bahamut – designed by Satoshi Kamiya

I folded this model almost 10 years ago. This is a great design but the paper I used to fold with is even greater,  it really stood the test of time…..

Bahamut – desinged by Satoshi

 You may find the diagram for this great model in “Works of Satoshi 1995 – 2003” published by Origami House, Japan.