[For Seniors] Fun and Easy Oni Crafts to Liven Up Setsubun: Simple, Enjoyable Ideas
When it comes to Setsubun, making oni (demon) crafts is something you’ll want to enjoy alongside bean throwing.
There are plenty of ideas that let you savor this seasonal event while working with your hands—oni masks and decorations made from paper plates, origami, or balloons, as well as containers for the beans.
As you reminisce together and work on colorful oni crafts, the time you spend will naturally be filled with smiles and fun.
Displaying your finished pieces or using them for bean throwing will really heighten the Setsubun atmosphere.
This year, why not make Setsubun a special day that welcomes good fortune with heartwarming oni crafts?
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[For Seniors] Oni Crafts to Liven Up Setsubun: Simple and Fun Ideas (1–10)
Red Ogre and Blue Ogre
Here’s an introduction to a cute oni (demon) made with origami.
Follow the video as you fold the paper.
If you make the crease lines first, it will be easier and look neater.
Once the oni shape is done, color the horns yellow and add patterns.
For the hair and facial features, use separate construction paper or origami.
If you’re good at drawing, you can also draw them with pens! In addition to the classic red and blue oni, making a variety of colorful oni—like green or yellow—will create a fun wall decoration.
Be sure to enjoy making the display together while sharing memories of Setsubun!
Demon bean box
An origami demon bean-holder box is such a wonderful idea.
It’s perfect to make together with seniors.
Using your hands helps increase finger movement and is said to stimulate the brain.
The steps are simple, so everyone can enjoy working on it together.
Draw a demon face on the surface to give it a seasonal touch.
Once it’s finished, you can use it for Setsubun bean-throwing, put sweets in it, or display it.
With a bit of creativity, there are so many ways to enjoy it.
If everyone chants “Oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi” together, it feels like happiness will come our way this year, too.
An oni made with tsumami-zaiku
Tsumami-zaiku is a traditional Japanese craft in which small pieces of fabric are folded and assembled into parts that are then glued together.
In the Edo period, it was used for items like hairpins, and the glamorous hair ornaments became hugely popular.
This time, we’ll adapt tsumami-zaiku to make little oni (demons) for Setsubun.
There are many small parts, but since you simply layer the basic folds, there are no complicated steps, and you can easily make cute oni! By changing the material or color of the thin chirimen crepe fabric, you can create oni with different vibes, so have fun making and displaying them.
[For Seniors] Oni-themed crafts to liven up Setsubun: Simple and fun ideas (11–20)
A three-dimensional, curly-haired demon
There’s a type of papercraft where you use a special tool to roll thin strips of paper and shape them into flowers, hearts, and more.
It’s called paper quilling, a handicraft that creates dimensional designs and allows for a wide range of expression.
With this “Curly-Haired Oni” project, you can easily make something similar to paper quilling.
Cut construction paper into long, thin strips for the hair and curl them around your finger.
Then attach the curled strips to the head area of a piece of construction paper cut into an oni (ogre) face shape.
Using your fingers helps stimulate and activate the brain.
Make the facial features by crumpling and shaping origami paper.
Get creative and design the face you like.
If you mount the finished oni face on a backing sheet and display it, it will instantly create a Setsubun atmosphere.
Egg-shaped red ogre and blue ogre
Driving out demons is the main event of Setsubun, but at kindergarten and daycare events the demons practically act like the stars of the show.
The children squeal with delight, too.
If the demons are that humorous, they’re more than welcome, right? So let’s make some cute, egg-shaped demons using styrofoam balls sold at 100-yen shops.
The method is very simple: cover a styrofoam ball with chirimen crepe fabric, then add the demon’s face and horns.
It’s easier than you’d think, so you could make a bunch and line them up into an adorable demon squad.
If you use yarn for the hair, it’ll look even cuter—give it a try!
den-den daiko (Japanese pellet drum)
This is an ogre-themed version of a den-den daiko (a hand drum toy you shake)! First, cut out the parts like the ogre’s face, hair, and horns.
Glue the round face piece onto thick paper, cut along the outline, then attach the other parts and draw the face details.
Secure a chopstick firmly to the back with tape, and make holes on both sides of the face.
Thread strings with crumpled aluminum foil balls through the holes and tie them, and it’s done! Since it’s just paper and aluminum foil, it won’t make sound, but the way the ogre’s face spins around is surprisingly cute—you might find yourself wanting to keep shaking it!
Pom-pom ogre with a sponge
How about making cute oni (ogres) with sponge stamps? All you need is construction paper and a sponge.
Use the construction paper to create the oni’s face, head, and horns.
After cutting out the parts and gluing them together, add paint to the sponge and stamp it on with a light dabbing motion.
As shown in the video, if you attach the sponge to a disposable chopstick with a rubber band, your hands will stay cleaner and stamping becomes easier.
After enjoying the stamping, draw the oni’s face to finish.
Let older adults choose their preferred colors for the construction paper and the stamp ink, and enjoy creating oni full of personality!