Home > Book Reviews > Origami: Living Nature
Origami: Living Nature
By Akira Yoshizawa
Published: 1996 by Sojusha
Pages: 200
Binding: Paperback
Language: Japanese
ISBN: 4916096312
Buy from: Amazon.jp
Overall Impression
For those seeking super complex models, with plenty of sticking-out-bits, this book will not be what you're
looking for. However, while Yoshizawa's models seem simple enough to fold (only a few steps per model), they
are very hard to fold "right". Yoshizawa seems to somehow breath life into his creations, and that's the secret
of their charm. I wouldn't recommend this book to beginners, since they could be frustrated with the lack of
clear reference points for the fold. These models should be "folded with feeling".
The book has detailed B&W photos of all models, and color photos of some of the models at the
beginning.
At the end of the book there are 3 photographic essays about cutting paper, wet-folding and back-coating.
These essays are in Japanese - and Joel Stern has kindly contributed an English translation for them, made by
his friend Robert Tsuchida.
The Models
| Model | Notes | Photo (Click for a larger image) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mouse | Cute |
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| Cow | Good | |||||
| Cow | 2 parts - very good | |||||
| Water buffalo head | Nice | |||||
| Tiger | Simple and nice | |||||
| Rabbit | Good | |||||
| Eastern dragon | Very good |
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| Snake | Nice |
 Folded by Mekks |
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| Horse | Simple | |||||
| Ram | Nice | |||||
| Sheep | 2 parts - nice | |||||
| Sheep head pocket | Some kind of decoration? | |||||
| Sheep head | Nice | |||||
| Monkey | Very cute |
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| Rooster | Nice |
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| Dog | Cute | |||||
| Scottie | 2 parts - good | |||||
| Dog | 3 simple puppy variations | |||||
| Dog | ||||||
| Dog | ||||||
| Wild boar | Very good |
 Folded by Mekks |
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| Cat | 2 parts - one of my favorite cat designs |
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| Condor - standing | ||||||
| Condor - flying | 2 variations | |||||
| Duck | Excellent - with color changed beak | |||||
| Duck | Simple | |||||
| Duck container | A container shaped as a duck | |||||
| Goldfish | Very nice | |||||
| Fish | Nice | |||||
| Flying fish | Cute | |||||
| Fish | Good | |||||
| Scarab beetle | Crease Pattern only | |||||
| Brachiosaurus | Cute |
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| Tree | Simple and nice | |||||
| Person | Very good variations of posing people | |||||
| Person - standing on hands |
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| Person - skipping | ||||||
| Running person | A person with a strange head | |||||
| Bride | A Japanese bride | |||||
| Witch | Very nice |
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| Magic wand | From a strip of paper - good | |||||
| Happy / Sad face | Happy on one side and sad when you turn it upside-down | |||||
| Demon mask | Good |
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| Kappa's head | Cute - a water demon | |||||
| Japanese person | Looks like Hina-dolls, several poses | |||||
| Star decoration | Nice | |||||
| Star decoration | ||||||
| Bamboo leaf | Nice | |||||
| Sailboat | 2 parts | |||||
| Sailboat | Simple | |||||
| Person | Simple - to place in boat | |||||
| Taurus | Nice constellation symbol | |||||
| Libra | From a rectangle - nice | |||||
| Airplanes | Many variations of flying airplanes |
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| Pinwheel | Simple toy |
Buy from: Amazon.jp
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