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Last updated 19/1/2026

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The work contains an Introduction to what the author calls 'Mitsuhiro-style origami', 49 sets of diagrams for heavily cut designs, and 60 equally heavily cut basic shapes from which other designs can be developed.

The notes on the dust cover and the Introduction both give some brief information about the author, his mother and his son, who were all paperfolding designers.

My grateful thanks to the British Origami Society for allowing me access to this work.

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About the author

Roughly translated the notes on the dust jacket say:

'Micvhio Uchiyama was born in Tsu City, Mie Prefecture, in 1878. He first entered a Shingon Buddhist monastery, then left to study in Tokyo. He entered government service at a young age but, after retiring, he moved to Hongo Motomachi, Tokyo, where he ran the Uchiyama Model Drawing Company and the Uchiyama Printing Company. In 1922 he invented the 'single entry printing method' and received a patent for it. He also continued his reearch into the family origami method (his research into origami has spanned over 100 years, through three generations of mother, son and grandson) and perfected the Koko style of origami. In 1933 he received an award for his 'Origami inventions' and a utility model registration. He subsequently received over 100 patents for new inventions.'

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Preface

Roughly translated this Preface reads:

'Origami, a traditional Japanese art passed down since ancient times, was created under the condition that the paper should not be cut, which naturally limited the types of work that could be created.

So I came up with a method to cut the paper in the right places from the beginning, bringing to the surface those parts of the paper that would go unused in traditional folding methods, and making them usable. This allows you to create works with limitless freedom.

This new origami method was named 'Mitsuhiro-style origami', and after receiving hundreds of utility model patents, the basic method was researched and developed. Various exhibitions were held over the three eras of meiji, Taisho and Showa, and several books on basic origami were published. It gives me great joy that today 'Mitsuhiro-style origami' has become a standard , common origami technique.

This time, based on my many years of research into origami, I have once again collected some representative basic forms that , with a little ingenuity, can be used to create any number of artistic creations, and I would like to share these with you in this final book.

This book is the definitive work about 'Mitsuhiro-style origami' and I am confident that it will remain a classic of origami for many years to come.

My research into origami has been passed down through three generations - mother, son, and grandson - for over 100 years. I am the second generation. My mother was born in the Tenpo era and served for many years as a maid to Lord Todo of Tsu City. She loved origami and handicrafts, creating many pieces in her spare time. However, they were burned in the Great Kanto Earthquake, and it was a great shame that the beautiful works she researched and created afterwards were also burned in an ocupational accident. My son, Okumasa, is a Zen monk, but he is also the third generation of origami reserachers, studying the art of folding origami.

My origami history:

In 1908 the basic method of folding origami was registered as a utility model for the first time. I subsequently received over 100 new invention patents. In February 1931 I held my first exhibition of origami works at Mitsubishi Department Store in Nihonbashi. In 1933 I published the books 'Origami Textbook', 'Origami Basic Diagram Collection' and 'New Origami Folding Methods'. In September 1933 I received the Merit Award for 'Origami Invention' from the Imperial Institute of Invention at the awards ceremony for inventors.'

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Frontispieces

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Analysis

All works are created using cuts

Horse

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Elephant

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Bear

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Rabbit

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Dog

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Lion

Unfortunately I do not have a copy of pages 16 and 17.

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Eagle

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Flying Dove

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Sparrow

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Crow

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Swallow

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Chicken

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Bantam

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Crane

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Heron

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Swan

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Duck

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Mandarin Duck

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Crab

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Tortoise

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Frog or Toad

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Koi Carp

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Goldfish

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Goldfish (2)

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Shrimp

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Crab (2)

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Octopus

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Squid

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Sea Bream

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Flying Fish

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Butterfly

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Silkworm Moth

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Locust

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Praying Mantis

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Dragonfly

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Cicada

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Hina Dolls - Emperor and Empress Dolls

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Court Lady Doll

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The Basic Shapes of Mitsuhiro-style Origami

Roughly translated this passage reads:

'The basic shapes compiled here are a selection of 60 representative basic folding shapes and serve as a sort of 'cheat sheet' that shows readers which basic shapes to rely on when making their own original origami.

As examples, we have included photographs of examples of works that can be made from each basicv shape. These can be made quickly, which is (a quality) unique to these basic shapes.

Of course, many other works can be created from each basic form, but these are merely hints and left for you to use in your own ingenuity. The key is to find ways to bring unused paper to the surface and to make use of it.

The order of arrangement of these basic shapes is people, animals, birds, insects and fish. All of the sheets are square, but by applying the shape of the ppaper to shapes such as rectangles, triangles, pentagons, octagons, hexagons and circlesm and by using the original divisions as shown in the illustrations, it is possible to creat an infinite number of new works.

Due to space limitation, I cannot provide a co,prehensive explanation of the ten, twelve and sixteen folds, but if you use a protractor to establish these you will find the basic shapes surprisingly easy to create.

If you apply this to the basics of folding you can create a more sophisticated basic form and a work of art with a rich flavour.

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