Lovely childcare

[Craft] Make and Display! A Special Feature on Ideas for Making Koinobori (Carp Streamers)

20 years of experience as a nursery teacher / kindergarten teacherhiyoko sensei
I’m Hiyoko-sensei, a former nursery school teacher from Hyogo Prefecture. Ever since I was five, my dream was to become a childcare worker, and before I knew it, 20 years had passed since I achieved that dream. Through singing and playing with the children, I kept working with the spirit of someone in their twenties, even as I increasingly felt my physical limits year by year (haha). From here on, I’d like to share helpful information carefully and thoughtfully, drawing on my on-site experience.
9 years of experience as a nursery school teacherShibata Risa
I am an active nursery school teacher with 9 years of experience. After graduating from university, I worked at a daycare center. The time I spent happily with children—playing piano, singing songs, and doing finger-play—are priceless memories to me. Currently, while raising three children of my own, I work at an after-school day service, engaging with children and providing individualized developmental support. Drawing on my diverse experiences as a childcare worker and as a mother, I hope to express and convey my thoughts through writing.

When it comes to Children’s Day, many people think of koinobori (carp streamers).

Koinobori are displayed at schools and at home to wish for children’s healthy growth.

This time, we’re sharing ideas for making koinobori.

There are plenty of fun ideas: perfect for wall displays, ones that use handprints and footprints, and even wearable versions! If children arrange them freely with their own ideas, they can create wonderfully unique koinobori full of personality.

Through making activities, let’s also teach the origins and customs of Children’s Day to deepen their interest in the event.

We use the term “seisaku” in the text because the items children create are treated as works or projects.

[Craft] Make and Display! A Collection of Koinobori Craft Ideas (41–50)

garland

Many households probably focus on decorating their walls with seasonal items.

If you want to enjoy carp streamers (koinobori) as a stylish wall decoration for Children’s Day, how about making them into a garland? You can make the koinobori out of paper, or use leftover fabric scraps you have at home for a budget-friendly option.

While garlands are typically hung on a string and displayed on the wall, using driftwood and natural jute twine to hang them in a balanced way will elevate the stylish look even more.

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Embroidery board using an embroidery hoop

As a stylish interior wall decoration, you sometimes see fabric embroidered in a hoop and displayed like a board.

If you embroider carp streamers (koinobori), it can serve as a wonderful decoration for Children’s Day! Embroidery hoops in various sizes and embroidery threads are sold at 100-yen shops, so even those who have never tried embroidery can easily give it a go.

There are many stitching methods and types of stitches, but there are beginner-friendly tutorial sites and videos—be sure to check them out and try making one! You can also adapt the idea for other seasons and events.

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A carp streamer made with an origami samurai helmet

Speaking of Children’s Day, kabuto helmets are an essential item.

Children’s Day is a day to wish for children’s healthy growth, and the kabuto symbolizes protection from danger and misfortune.

Here’s an idea: let’s make a wall-decoration carp streamer (koinobori) using origami kabuto.

The origami kabuto are small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, but if you stick many of them on, you can create a very striking koinobori.

The slightly protruding helmet parts make the scales look three-dimensional, which is really cool!

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mizuhiki (traditional Japanese decorative cord made from washi paper)

Speaking of carp streamers, they’re associated with Children’s Day—a day to celebrate children’s growth.

With that in mind, why not try making a carp streamer using mizuhiki cords for good luck? There are several tying techniques like the Awaji knot and the plum blossom knot, so choose one that seems easy for you or suits the shape you want to create.

By the way, this kind of craft is called “mizuhiki art,” and exhibitions are held across Japan.

If you’re looking to start something new, why not give it a try?

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Pebble art

Have you heard of pebble art or stone art? It’s an art form where you pick up stones from places like riverbanks and paint on them with acrylic paints.

If you have a bit of free time, how about heading to a rocky riverbank, collecting some stones, and painting koinobori (carp streamers) on them? Picture how you’ll paint the koinobori and think about where you’ll display them as you choose your stones.

Wash them thoroughly, let them dry completely, and then start painting.

You can get acrylic paints and brushes even at 100-yen shops.

You’ll end up with a one-of-a-kind koinobori—truly the only one like it in the world!

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carp streamer

[Origami Carp Streamer] A carp streamer you can make easily and quickly 💙 For Children's Day in May ♪ How to make a very easy carp streamer with origami

carp streamer

Let’s make a koi nobori (carp streamer) using origami.

First, fold back about 1 centimeter at the end that will become the mouth to show the white part on the back.

Then lightly fold the paper in half, and make a cut of about 2.5 centimeters at the tail end.

Fold that section into a triangle, and fold the outer side into a triangle as well.

Fold the body into thirds, overlap the white mouth section, and then draw in the eyes and scales to finish.

If you cut out scales from other paper and paste them on, you’ll get a colorful koi nobori.

Try using a variety of colors!

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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Koinobori Kendama

Here’s how to make a carp streamer kendama that you can play with after making it.

You will need paper cups, colored paper or masking tape, string, tape, and aluminum foil.

Use two paper cups and attach them together at the bottoms.

Decorate the cups to look like a carp streamer by drawing eyes and adding colored paper or masking tape.

Attach a string to the cup, and fix a tightly rolled ball of aluminum foil to the end of the string to finish.

Adjust the string length so it’s easy to play and the aluminum foil ball can land in the cup more easily.

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Koinobori Calendar

How about making a calendar with carp streamers (koinobori) as the main image? Prepare the calendar section as a base, and then add koinobori in the open spaces.

You could fold koinobori out of origami and paste them on, draw koinobori with colored pencils or crayons, or create collage art—there are many ways to represent them.

It might also be fun to use round stickers to depict the koinobori’s scales and eyes!

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koi (carp)

Easy way to make an origami koi (carp) ~ How to make an easy origami carp ~

koi (carp)

Let’s make it with a single sheet of origami! I’ll introduce a koi idea.

All you need is one sheet of origami paper in your favorite color.

Koi are traditional fish in Japan, and many children are familiar with them from koi-shaped streamers (koinobori) displayed during Children’s Day.

This origami idea is easy to make using basic folds, so children can have fun while developing their fine motor skills.

Another appealing point is that by experimenting with colors and shapes, kids can create their very own unique koi.

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Making koinobori with stamps

[Easy Craft] Perfect for Children’s Day! We made a Koinobori (carp streamer)! [For 1-year-olds]

Making koinobori with stamps

Let’s make stamps using empty lactic acid drink containers and pipe cleaners.

These child-friendly stamps are easy to hold and not only fun to dab, but also help develop fine motor skills through actions like gripping and pressing.

Attach a plastic bottle cap to the drink container’s opening, then add a pipe cleaner shaped into a circle to complete the stamp.

Use the stamped patterns on drawing paper to create koi-nobori (carp streamer) scale designs and enjoy a seasonal craft.

The neatly arranged circular patterns will make for an adorable finished piece.

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