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Last updated 27/1/2026

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'Happy Origami: Swallow Book' by Tatsuo Miyawaki was published by Biken-Sha in 1960 and distributed by Japan Publications Trading Company. This page is based on a Spanish version (although the cover is in English). I have not seen the English version but presume that the designs it contained were identical.

The work contained folded examples of (most of) the designs as well as a small quantity of paper to fold them from.

Many of the designs are heavily cut (in fact only 10 of the 22 designs in the work are uncut) and many are also depicted in the coloured plates with added decorations, especially eyes.

My grateful thanks to the British Origami Society for letting me see a copy of this work.

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Analysis

Golondrino (swallow) - The Cut Swallow

A cut is used to split the tail.

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Lirio (lily) (cut)

Cuts are used to create the top of the design.

The yellow triangle is an additional decoration.

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Mariquita (ladybird)

The text says that the folding method is the same as for the Luciernaga (see below)

A folded model of this design does not appear in the work.

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Carpa volante / Koi Nobori (version 1)

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Carpa volante / Koi Nobori (version 1) - The Fish Base Whale

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Hidrangea (cut)

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Gallina (cut) (hen)

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Gallo (rooster)

The basic design is not cut but the comb is cut from a separate piece of paper and glued in place.

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Cisne (swan) -

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Graga -

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Luciernaga (firefly) -

When this design is glued to a larger circle of paper it also functions as the base of a shuttlecock.

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Libelula (dragonfly) (cut)

The wings are separated using cuts.

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Perro (dog) (cut)

This is a compound design. The head is uncut but the legs are separated from the body using a cut.

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Gato (cat) (cut)

This is a compound design. The head is uncut but the body is shaped using a cut.

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Gigarra (cicada) - The Kabuto-base Cicada

In one of the two versions glued onto the page the wings have been opened out.

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Red (net)

Note that the diagrams do not show the final shaping folds.

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Yate (yacht) (cut)

The bottom of the design is folded inside the hull using a cut.

Note that the glued on design is not the design shown in the diagrams.

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Buque de vela (sailing ship)

Note that the glued on design is clearl a steamship not a sailing ship

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Jirafa (giraffe) (cut)

The tips of the legs are cut off in step 14.

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Cerdo - The Pig

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Oso Marino (sea bear) - The Cut Fish Base Seal

Cuts are used to separate the back legs.

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Elefante (cut)

Note that the work does not contain a folded version of this heavily cut design.

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