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Genuine Origami

By Jun Maekawa

Published: 2007 by Nichibou
Pages:160
Binding: Paperback
Language: Japanese
ISBN: 9784817081278

Buy from: Amazon.jp
Buy from: YesAsia.com

Skill Level : From low-intermediate to complex
Clear diagrams? Yes
Tinted diagrams (to show 2 sides of paper)? Yes
Photos of completed models? Excellent photos
Is there indication to the model size resulting from size of starting paper? No
Are the models "Pure" origami (From square - no cuts)? Most are
Overall Impression

This is Jun Maekawa's first book since the publication of  Viva! Origami in 1983, and contains a few of his older designs, as well as many new creations. Most of the older designs have been re-worked and re-diagrammed for this book. 

Maekawa's style is "Genuine Origami" in that all is achieved by folding alone - shaping is pretty much unnecessary, and the final model is clean-looking, with defined lines and straight edges. Most models could be folded successfully from any available paper. The folding process itself is a lot of fun, involving interesting and innovative moves.


The book includes a lot of theory, but, as it's all in Japanese, I cannot comment on it, only wish I could read it.

The diagram quality is very good, but I found it to be concise in places, involving several steps in one diagram or turning the model over before showing the results of the last step. This is the main reason why I would not recommend the book to absolute beginners. Intermediate and advanced folders, however,  will find many hours of fun in this book.

The Models
Model Notes Photo (click for a larger image)

Part 1: Fundamental Models

Rat  Nice
Squirrel  Simple and cute
Divided box A very clever box, with fun moves, where the final "pop-up" move creates the box.  Also published as "X box" in Origami Tanteidan convention 11  
Spiral shell  Nice  
Santa Claus  Very nice. Also published in Origami Fun World and in ORU magazine #3
Giraffe  Simple - very stylized  
Elephant  Nice
Elephant  Nice  
Folded by Origami Okiba
Transformed Crane  Folded from an off-center bird-base  

Part 2: Simple Models

Snake Some interesting box-pleating moves, but I don't really like the final shape.
Airplane  Nice
Folded by Origami Okiba
Samurai helmet  Very nice. Also published in Viva! Origami
Boar  Very nice  origami boar
Dolphin  Very nice
Person Also published in Tanteidan magazine #98  
Folded by Origami Okiba
Japanese macaque  Excellent  
Tree  Very nice  
Folded by Origami Okiba

Part 3: Varieties of Origami

Hina dolls  Each doll is made of 2 squares  
Fujiyama module  A modular from 12 rectangles  
Reindeer  From a tea-bag wrapper. Also published in Origami Tanteidan convention 3  
Connected cranes  Rokoan-style connected cranes, based on Golden section  

Part 4: Intermediate Models

Gift box  A clever box from 1 square
Squid  Very nice. Also published in Folding Australia 2005  
Folded by Origami Okiba
Puppy  Very nice
3-headed crane    
Standing crane  Very nice  
Folded by Origami Okiba
Cow  Nice  
Sheep Nice. Also published in Origami Tanteidan convention 8
Dragon Excellent. Almost identical to the dragon published in Origami Tanteidan convention 6  
Folded by Origami Okiba
Horse  Very nice
Triceratops  Very nice
Rabbit  Three-dimensional. Very nice
Tiger mask  Nice
Devil mask  Excellent mask- with good locking and nice 3D features.
Penguin  Excellent
Frog Very nice and 3-dimensional
Pyramid A fractal pyramid - also published in Origami Tanteidan convention 4  
Folded by Origami Plaza

Part 5: Complex Models

Chick  Also published in Tanteidan magazine #88  
Folded by Origami Okiba
Peacock  Excellent. Also published in Tanteidan magazine #61  
Folded by Deiby
Turkey  Excellent - with a fractal tail
Tyrannosaurus  Very nice  
Eastern dragon  Excellent
Flying Samurai-helmet beetle  Excellent  
Folded by Origami Okiba
Devil  Maekawa's modern classic. Excellent.