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

Message Card

[Children’s Day] How to make a message card with Kintaro and carp streamers

Let’s try making a message card for Children’s Day.

We especially encourage older adults who have grandchildren to make a Children’s Day message card.

Create items that evoke Children’s Day or the Boys’ Festival using origami or construction paper, and attach them to the card.

For example, carp streamers (koinobori), iris flowers, or Kintaro are great motifs.

Besides crafting with paper, you can also write a message with a brush or draw a picture.

A heartfelt, handmade card is sure to delight the recipient.

If you like, please use this as inspiration to create a wonderful message card.

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Nakajima Junko

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Carp streamers with plump, scaly patterns

[Origami and Colored Construction Paper] Cute Koinobori with Puffy Scales (with Audio Commentary)

Here is a carp streamer (koinobori) you can display indoors at your facility.

Many places change their wall decorations each month, don’t they? Some older adults seem to feel the season through wall decorations related to the month’s representative events and celebrations.

Seeing koinobori decorations may remind them of Children’s Day in May and the Boys’ Festival (Tango no Sekku).

A koinobori with charmingly plump scales is fun not only to make but also just to look at.

The puffy scales, made with two sheets of origami paper, aren’t difficult, so many older adults should be able to create them.

By admiring the wonderful koinobori they made themselves, they can also feel a sense of accomplishment.

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Nakajima Junko

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Koinobori chopstick sleeve

[Origami] Chopstick Holder Koinobori (Carp Streamer) with Voice Commentary [Senior Recreation] Origami [Stay-at-Home Time]

To help seniors feel the seasons, some senior and nursing care facilities offer special seasonal meals, don’t they? In those moments, we’d like to introduce a carp streamer–themed chopstick sleeve that’s lovely to set quietly on the table.

Let’s fold a chopstick sleeve using origami.

If you use gold or red origami paper for the sleeve, you’ll end up with a festive design perfect for celebratory occasions.

Attach a carp streamer made from origami to the sleeve as well.

As you fold, some seniors may recall past Boys’ Day (Tango no Sekku) celebrations.

Besides carp streamers, you can also attach other seasonal decorations to the sleeve so it can be used throughout the year.

Please try arranging and customizing your own version.

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Nakajima Junko

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New Year’s origami

[New Year Origami] How to fold a cute and easy-to-make daruma

Let’s try folding a daruma doll using a single sheet of origami paper! The steps are simple, but you’ll end up with a cute daruma.

Once it’s done, draw the face with a pen or use round stickers—try different expressions and enjoy customizing it! Origami is said to stimulate and activate the brain by using your fingertips and thinking through the next steps.

It’s also easy to do while chatting with others, which helps spark social interaction.

Please make use of origami daruma to create a delightful time for older adults.

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Nakajima Junko

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Seven Lucky Gods origami

[Origami of the Seven Lucky Gods] Cute good-luck charm! How to fold a seated Benzaiten (Benten)

The Seven Lucky Gods are said to be a group formed by deities from various religions, including Buddhism, Hinduism, Shinto, and Taoism.

They’re like the Avengers of the gods.

In fact, there are countries and regions where they’re considered the Eight Lucky Gods.

Wouldn’t it be lovely to fold the Seven Lucky Gods in origami? If you’re enjoying this at a senior facility, it might be nice to divide them among seven people so each person makes a different deity.

These days, there’s plenty of knowledge and information about origami available, from professional origami websites to hobbyist videos.

Find something that matches your skill level and give it a try!

Origami: Mount Fuji ema (votive plaque)

[New Year Origami] How to Make an Ema of Mt. Fuji

How about making an origami ema plaque with your New Year’s wishes for the New Year? First, fold the origami paper toward the center to halve it, then fold it in half again.

Next, fold the left and right sides diagonally to create angles and form the shape of an ema.

Finally, make a slit in the center so you can thread a string through.

Also, slightly fold each of the four corners of a small red origami paper to make a sun; fold a small green origami paper like a crane at first, then spread the left and right sides to make a pine shape.

For the blue origami paper, if you use the white reverse side to suggest snow, you can create a beautiful Mt.

Fuji.

With the first sunrise from Mt.

Fuji, your auspicious ema is complete!

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hiyori

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New Year’s Crane

Origami Celebration Crane / New Year’s Crane Instructions

How about making a New Year’s crane with a fan out of origami? Just displaying it in your entryway or a room will instantly enhance the festive New Year atmosphere! It’s also perfect for a New Year’s craft activity at day service centers, so why not give it a try? The key to this origami is to crease firmly as you fold.

There are a few finer steps, but they’re just right for finger dexterity training for older adults! Opening the fan at the end makes it suddenly more dazzling.

Using double-sided origami with a plain color on one side and a pattern on the other will make it even more beautiful, so be sure to try it!

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miyabi

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