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Last updated 14/12/2024

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The author does not state whether the designs are traditional, his own original work, or the original work of some other designer.

Several actual folded models were glued onto the pages.

Lilian Oppenheimer wrote an Introduction to the work, which states:

In his book 'Nihon no kokoro dento origami', which was published by Japan Publications in Tokyo in 1969, Isao Honda wrote, roughly translated: 'In 1936 I was asked by a Canadian publisher to write a book titled 'How to make Origami'. The Preface to the book was written by Mrs Oppenheimer, a well-known American researcher in origami. I was taken aback by a passage in the Preface that categorically stated 'The technology of origami was brought to Japan from China along with the method of making paper, at the beginning of the 6th Century' However, later, through documents from her, it became clear that the theory that origami was introduced from China was actually due to an article in a Japanese encyclopaedia. The method of cutting Katashiro, which was introduced along with Buddhism, was reported as if it was the first origami, and this eventually led to the theory that origami was introduced from China'. Katashiro are paper dolls said to be inhabited by Kami (spirits).

The Introduction, as published (see above), does not contain the words Honda says it does, and I wonder if Honda is quoting from a draft that was altered prior to publication.

A full low-res copy of the work can be found at the foot of this page and a full high-res copy can be accessed online here.

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The work contains diagrams for:

Analysis

Cup - The Paper Cup

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Swan - The Simple Swan

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Missile - The Short Paper Dart

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Pin-wheel - The Bi-Colour Windmill

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Folding Box - The Collapsible Box

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Crane - The Paper Crane

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Canary - The Cut Canary

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Owl - The Cut Owl

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Cat - Honda's compound Cat

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Kangaroo - Honda's Compound Kangaroo

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Lobster - The Cut Lobster

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Wild Goose - The Wild Goose

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Fox - Honda's Compound Fox

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Crow - The Crow with Legs

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And additionally images of:

As well as the diagrams the work also contains endpapers and a page-filler illustration which contain images of designs not otherwise mentioned or explained in the work, specifically the giraffe, seal, elephant, kabuto, dove, penguin, duck, frog, dog, peacock, eagle and deer.

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The Work

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