[For Seniors] Enjoy Something New Every Day! Today’s Origami

yukata (summer cotton kimono)

Yukata are one of the iconic sights of summer, and seeing people wearing them evokes a sense of seasonal charm.

They also create a refreshing impression even on hot summer days.

So let’s help seniors feel the spirit of summer by making yukata with origami.

Origami comes in a wide variety of patterns and designs—try using ones unique to origami, such as traditional Japanese motifs or polka dots.

Adding an obi (belt) to the finished yukata will enhance the atmosphere even more.

Choosing the colors for the yukata and the obi is another aspect seniors are likely to enjoy.

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Nakajima Junko

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shooting star

[Can be made with one sheet of origami] Cute shooting star origami – Origami Shooting Star Tanabata decoration

The origami “shooting star,” perfect for the Tanabata night sky, is a magical and delightful craft to look at.

After folding a star shape and adding a tail, it looks just like a real shooting star streaking across the night sky.

By changing the colors and length, you can create decorations with a variety of expressions.

It’s easy for older adults to try, and the gentle, finger-focused work can help stimulate the brain.

Displaying them together with tanzaku strips and the Milky Way will bring out the Tanabata spirit even more.

Why not make a wish and create a shooting star with origami?

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kojifumi

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Orihime and Hikoboshi

Tanabata Origami Activity: Complete Guide to Folding Orihime and Hikoboshi – Elderly Recreation

The origami piece “Hikoboshi and Orihime,” perfect for Tanabata, is a gentle, beginner-friendly project that seniors can enjoy as well.

Using origami paper to create the kimono and hairstyles, you can add clever touches for a cute, expressive finish.

Drawing in the facial features adds personality and makes the crafting even more fun.

Display them together with bamboo decorations, stars, and tanzaku strips to instantly enhance the Tanabata atmosphere.

With simple steps, you’ll have a heartwarming creation.

Why not enjoy the seasonal celebration at home or in a senior care facility using origami?

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kojifumi

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firefly

Easy way to fold an origami insect series firefly! Recommended for July.

These days, we don’t get as many chances to see fireflies glowing over rice fields and waterways at night.

When today’s seniors were young, weren’t there many more fireflies flitting about? Let’s make a calendar using firefly origami that brings back those kinds of summer memories.

Since you’ll make the firefly’s body and its glowing part separately, there are fewer tricky steps.

For the glowing tail, try sticking on a yellow circle cut from origami paper or a round yellow sticker.

Besides calendars, this firefly origami is perfect for summer crafts like wreaths and wall decorations.

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Nakajima Junko

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Standing Kintarō

Origami 3D Kintaro

Kintaro, the folk tale character, has a strong image of power, which makes him perfect for the Children’s Day theme of wishing for growth.

This piece is about recreating Kintaro with origami, paying attention to creases and the shapes of each part to build a three-dimensional figure.

Use skin-toned origami paper for the base, and be mindful of the angles of the folds so it can stand on its own.

Then add decoration: use red origami for the body parts based on a triangle, and black origami for the face part shaped like a square pouch.

Since the body and face are made separately, it’s important to keep an eye on the size balance as you work.

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kappamaki

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Kintaro

[Children’s Day Origami] Easy! Cute Kintaro Folding Instructions / Origami Koinobori

On Children’s Day in May, many households display Kintaro dolls.

They are put up with the wish that children will grow up kind and lively like Kintaro.

So for a May origami craft, let’s try folding Kintaro.

If you fold the face, hair, and body with separate sheets of origami paper, you can create a piece that looks just like the real Kintaro.

The folds aren’t very complicated and are simple enough that older adults may also find this project easy to do.

Adding an origami carp streamer to the finished piece or mounting it on a backing board for display will make it look wonderful.

Koinobori and wisteria flowers

May decorations: carp streamers and wisteria 🎏

Wisteria flowers reach their best viewing time from the end of April.

You may have opportunities to go see them with older adults.

Some seniors might look forward to the purple wisteria trellises every year.

Here, we introduce wisteria—the flower that represents May—and carp streamers (koinobori) decorations.

We’ll make wisteria and koinobori out of origami.

There are some steps with fine folds, so seniors who enjoy origami are likely to have fun with this craft.

Once the wisteria and koinobori are finished, attach them to a paper plate.

If you paste a sheet with a sky pattern in the center of the plate, it will look like the koinobori are swimming in the sky.

Cutting out the center of the paper plate to make it into a wreath shape is also lovely.