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[For Seniors] Celebrate Children's Day: Make Your Own Koinobori (Carp Streamers)

When talking about Tango no Sekku on Children’s Day, koinobori (carp streamers) come to mind.

Many families raise koinobori to wish for their children’s growth.

Along rivers and in parks, there are also events where you can enjoy countless koinobori swimming leisurely in the wide sky—beloved as a seasonal tradition of early summer in Japan.

Let’s try making koinobori by hand, something very familiar even to seniors.

We’ve gathered a variety of ideas, from easy ones made with origami or paper plates to more elaborate versions made with felt.

Koinobori that double as decorations also make perfect gifts for your grandchildren.

By all means, handcraft some koinobori and celebrate Children’s Day!

[For Seniors] Celebrate Children's Day: Make Your Own Koinobori (11–20)

Pochi-bukuro (small decorative envelope for gifting money)

[DIY Work Video] [100-yen Shop Budget-Friendly] Easy! How to Make a Koinobori Gift Envelope – Golden Week & Children’s Day – Left-Handed Tutorial
Pochi-bukuro (small decorative envelope for gifting money)

Let’s try making a small money envelope (pochibukuro) shaped like a carp streamer (koinobori).

In many older adults’ households, people still raise koinobori or display samurai helmets (kabuto) for the Boys’ Festival in May, don’t they? Since the Boys’ Festival and Children’s Day fall during Golden Week, it’s also a time when grandchildren or relatives’ children might gather.

In such situations, it would be nice to give them a gift tucked into a handmade koinobori pochibukuro.

The steps to make the envelopes aren’t complicated, so they should be easy for older adults to create as well.

Plus, handmade pochibukuro can be threaded onto a string to make a garland, so they can also be used as indoor decorations.

Koinobori hanging decoration

[Easy] 🎏 How to Make Koinobori (Carp Streamers) 🎏 Just cut and paste ✨ [100-yen shop origami] How to make carp-shaped streamers
Koinobori hanging decoration

Koinobori look magnificent as they swim grandly through the sky and are a seasonal symbol of spring and early summer.

Let’s make a hanging decoration so you can enjoy koinobori indoors, too.

Use washi-patterned origami or regular origami to create the body of the koinobori and add the eyes.

Then thread the koinobori onto a string, make the fins and tail, and you’re done.

If you make several koinobori and hang them on the same string, it’s like seeing the magoi (black carp), higoi (red carp), and more together.

Watching the gently swaying indoor koinobori hanging decoration, some older adults may feel the arrival of May.

Koinobori decoration

[Children’s Day] Let’s make a carp streamer decoration. 🎏
Koinobori decoration

Here’s an idea for a carp streamer decoration in the style of a hanging scroll.

You can use origami carp and finish it in a way that suits the celebration of Children’s Day.

Fold the carp out of origami paper—Japanese patterns or other designs are recommended.

Attach crepe paper and washi to create a hanging scroll backing, then stick the origami carp onto it.

Making and attaching a windsock (fukinagashi) alongside the carp will look lovely as well.

Displayed on the wall like a hanging scroll, it can help evoke the feeling of May even for older adults.

Alternatively, insert a stick into a paper cup weighted with clay and attach the hanging scroll to the stick.

Ring-decorated carp streamers

[Ring Ornament Craft Idea] Carp streamers made with paper chains! (May wall decorations) (Activities for seniors, occupational therapy, day service, preschool, DIY, origami, creative, easy)
Ring-decorated carp streamers

Here’s an introduction to a project that cleverly uses lots of paper chain loops to represent the scales of a carp streamer.

It’s also a great idea for wall decorations.

Paper chains are often used for party and event decor, right? They’re usually made from strips of origami paper cut into narrow rectangles.

This time, let’s turn those chains into the scales of a koi nobori (carp streamer).

Make an extra-large loop to serve as the tail fin.

Attach the chain “scales” and the big tail fin to a carp face cut from construction paper.

That alone makes a splendid carp streamer, but try making a rotating arrow wheel (yaguruma) and streamers (fukinagashi) to go with it for even more atmosphere.

Seniors making the paper chains will likely enjoy lively conversation with those around them as they work.

Koinobori wall decoration made with craft bands

How to make an easy carp streamer decoration using origami and craft bands – crafting – handmade
Koinobori wall decoration made with craft bands

How about making a wall decoration packed with the charm of May using origami and craft bands? First, prepare a craft band and attach double-sided tape to the end.

Shape it into a ring, then wrap thread around it as if drawing a line through the center.

Also wrap thread so that it hangs down on the left and right.

Using your favorite origami paper, make carp streamers (koinobori), streamers, pinwheels, samurai helmets (kabuto), and a banner flag, then use double-sided tape to attach them to the threads.

Secure them from the back with glue so they don’t fall off.

Add embellishments with pearl stickers, adjust the ring shape, and you’re done.

Although there are some fine tasks, using your fingertips can help prevent cognitive decline, so this is also recommended as occupational therapy or recreation in senior care facilities.

Koi carp streamers leaping

[Children’s Day Origami] How to fold a cute koi-nobori (carp streamer) 2 with voice commentary ☆ Origami Japanese carp streamer tutorial — decoration for the May seasonal festival
Koi carp streamers leaping

When you think of koinobori, many of you probably picture them swimming energetically across the sky.

This time, we’ll introduce an origami koinobori craft with a lively, dynamic look.

You’ll make the body and head using two sheets of origami paper.

The finished piece looks as if it’s leaping, just like a real koinobori.

Using patterned paper enhances the koinobori’s feel even more.

For older adults, making koinobori may bring back memories of Children’s Day and the Boys’ Festival.

Once finished, you can attach a stick to make a tabletop koinobori, or paste it onto a wreath for display—there are many ways to enjoy your creation.

[For Seniors] Brighten up Children’s Day: Making Koinobori (21–30)

Two simple types of koinobori (carp streamers)

Koinobori wall decorations made of paper (2 types, with voice-over). How to make KOINOBORI paper wall decorations – 2 types.
Two simple types of koinobori (carp streamers)

Let’s try making a three-dimensional, paper-cut carp streamer with scales.

We’ll fold origami or construction paper and make slits as we go.

By changing where you cut with the scissors, you can create a variety of scale designs.

You can either stick the finished scales onto a sheet that becomes the body of the streamer, or stretch the scales themselves to form the body.

With a little ingenuity, you can make two types of carp streamers.

The materials are minimal, so it’s easy to make.

It’s also a project that older adults can enjoy, taking the finished piece home to decorate their own room.