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Last updated 5/8/2024

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'Noshi - Classic Origami in Japan' by Isao Honda was published by Japan Publications Trading Company in Tokyo and Rutland, Vermont in 1964. Despite the title, only a relatively small proportion of the book is about noshi, the remainder mostly being concerned with various cash gift wrappers and goma-shio containers (some of both of which are decorated with noshi) and one traditional open wrapper for the Japanese Sweet Flag. There is also a page about 'titles' on slips of paper attached to gifts, which appears to have been added as an afterthought, possibly simply to fill up space.

The text seems vague and contradictory in places, although this may perhaps be a result of the poor quality of the translation into English. The original work had an actual folded noshi pasted into the front.

It is also worth noting that Honda presents no evidence to establish the antiquity of any of the designs he presents in this work and it is not clear whether, despite the subtitle, they are all traditional designs or whether some are his own creations.

Honda advances the theory that play origami developed from the folding of less formal modern containers and wrappers, but it shouild be noted 1, that he provides no historical evidence in support of this theory and 2, the theory is contradicted by the known sequence of events within the Japanese paperfolding tradition.

The illustrations in the original work are in red. The bird pictured at middle left on the cover does not appear in the work.

A low-res version of the work is included at the foot of this page.

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Analysis

The introductory pages (which can be read in full below) explain the nature of noshi, which consist of three parts, a strip of dried and stretched abalone, a folded paper wrapper to contain this strip, and a knotted string (mizuhiki) to hold the wrapper and the strip of dried and stretched abalone together. In modern practice the strip of dried and stretched abalone (noshita-awabi) is replaced by a strip of paper and the mizuhiki by a paper band.

The author also states that noshi wrappers were originally folded from oblongs but are now usually folded from squares, and that the modern folding method has been simplified.

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Three Noshi folded from squares

The text states that these three modern noshi are each folded from two squares of paper, a red sheet inside a white one.

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A Noshi from a 2x1 rectangle

The text states that this is a traditional type of noshi only used to attach to formal betrothal gifts.

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Shobu no hana zutsumi (wrapper for Japanese Sweet Flag)

The text states that this is one of the few formal flower wrappers (kusubana zutsumi) still in use, 'usually dispayed on May 5th, when Boy's Day is celebrated'

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At this point the author advances the theory that play origami developed from the folding of less formal containers (closed wrappers).

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Paper Cash Gift Wrapper with a Noshi

Folded from a 13 x 9 oblong of white paper.

A small square of red paper is used to enhance the appearance of the integral noshi

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Paper Cash Gift Wrapper with a Crane

Folded from a 13 x 9 oblong of white paper.

The Crane replaces the noshi as an auspicious symbol.

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The next section of the work explains the folding of Goma-Shio wrappers used to contain return gifts of o-sekihan.

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Goma-Shio Wrapper with a Crane

Folded from a 12 x 8 (3 x 2) oblong of white paper.

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Goma-Shio Wrapper with a Noshi (two different methods)

Each folded from a 12 x 8 (3 x 2) oblong of white paper.

Method A

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Method B

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A Helmet-Shape Wrapper

Folded from a 12 x 8 (3 x 2) oblong of white or gold paper.

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A Suehiro

Folded from two sheets of 12 x 7 oblong of white and red paper.

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A Hoiraizan (Crane and Tortoise Wrapper)

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Collapsible Boxes (Three Methods)

Method A

From a 2 x 3 oblong.

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A Box with a Noshi

From two 2 x 3 oblongs, one white, one red, or a single sheet of paper with different colours on each side.

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Method B

From a square. The text just says 'red' but this box can presumably be made from either two sheets of paper, one red, one white or a single sheet of paper with different colours on each side.

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An Octangular Case (Method A)

From a square.

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A Tortoise-Shell

From a square.

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An Octangular Case (Method B)

Two decorative variations folded from octagons. Two sheets of paper are folded together to create the colour contrasts.

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A Hexagon Case

From a hexagon.

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A Daffodil Shape

From a hexagon. The instructions say 'a yellow sheet of paper is placed on a green sheet'.

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A Hemp Leaf Pattern

From a hexagon. The instructions say 'red sheet on white'.

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A Star Shape

From two hexagons of different colours.

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The Work

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