Hatrack River Forum: Origami

This is topic Origami in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.

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Posted by maui babe (Member # 1894) on :

I've mentioned in other threads that I have a co-worker who is Japanese. I've really enjoyed working with her, despite some communication and cultural issues that have come up. Today she taught me how to make a paper crane. [Big Grin]

We have another co-worker who has recently had a cancer that was in remission return, and her prognosis is not good. Takako, my Japanese friend, has decided to make 1000 paper cranes as a get well gift for our other friend, and she asked if I wanted to help her make the cranes. Mine are pretty rough so far, but they're getting better. I guess there are many different techniques for making the cranes, but this site is pretty close to how Takako does it.

She wasn't sure how the tradition began, but from what I was able to find on google, the tradition began after the bombing of Hiroshima.

My daughter is in her third year of Japanese as a foreign language in high school. I'm thinking I might get her a book on Origami and some folding papers for Christmas. Takako isn't much for American books, and my daughter really isn't ready for a Japanese book. Do any of you have any recommendations for a good book on Origami?

Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :

We made 1,000 paper cranes for a little girl at my elementary school who had cancer.

I'm not sure about books, but there are lots of great sites on oragami; maybe some of them have recommendations.

Posted by Shigosei (Member # 3831) on :

I've found that origami books that use photographs instead of drawings tend to be easier to follow.

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

I read Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes years ago. In fact, I think it may have been my introduction to the horrors of Hiroshima.

The paper-crane folding is at least centuries old, as a combination of meditation and prayer. Doing it for on behalf of a sick friend may indeed have begun with Sadako.

Best wishes for health and long life for your friend. [Smile]

Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :

rivka, we read that book that year and decided to make the cranes for the girl who was sick because of that. [Smile]

Posted by theCrowsWife (Member # 8302) on :

You don't actually have to read Japanese to use Japanese origami books. I learned off of them without any prior knowledge of Japanese or most paper folding techniques. If your daughter is good with visual stuff, she might enjoy the real Japanese books better. And they might help her study a bit.

Unfortunately, I don't know of any good English books. I haven't done much origami since I was in middle school, and that was all with the Japanese books.

[ADDIT: I'm pretty certain the books I have are intended for Japanese children, based on the photographs. Origami books intended for adults may be too difficult.

If you want, I could scan the covers of my books to give you an idea of what to look for.]

--Mel

Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :

I have little patience for the really complicated stuff. I can make a paper boat, a flapping crane, a nesting crane (the "traditional" one), a paper cup, a hopping frog, a little "star box" for pencil shavings or eraser dust or pretty presentation of candies, and that's pretty much it.

I can make one flapping crane and one hopping frog (or two of either) and two very small boats out of one Sacrament meeting program. [Wink]

Posted by Goo Boy (Member # 7752) on :

It's a pterodactyl!

Caw! Caw!

[Big Grin]

Posted by Papa Moose (Member # 1992) on :

A pizza, and a box!

Posted by erosomniac (Member # 6834) on :

maui babe: in Hawaii especially, every small bookstore (and by small, I mean smaller than, say, Barnes & Noble - like Waldenbooks) will have several good ones. Ben Franklin (if you have one near you) sells nothing BUT good ones.