SoraNews24 —Japan News—

Whether you’re into origami, scrapbooking or decorating, these Japanese papers will bring the magic of Studio Ghibli to all your favourite projects.

Anime & Manga, Cute, Japan
(anime • cool • Hayao Miyazaki • My Neighbor Totoro • origami • paper • Studio Ghibli • washi)

Forget dog-earing and bookmarks that fall, make your own easy origami bookmark instead!

Scott Wilson
Feb 1, 2016

We’ll show you how to never again lose a page number to the dreaded “bookmark slip.”

Japan
(arts & crafts • bookmark • cool • DIY • fun • origami)

These minimalistic origami-inspired watches are sure to please any fashion lover

Preston Phro
Dec 1, 2015

Origami has exploded internationally over the last few decades, and these minimalist watches from Hong Kong capture the heart of the tradition on your wrist!

China, Internet
(Hong Kong • odm • origami • watches)

New origami-style lamp re-invents the way we think about “do it yourself”

KK Miller
Nov 25, 2015

This lamp folds in so many different ways that it’s like owning a thousand different lamps.

Europe, Internet
(cool • design • folding lamp • interior • origami • Thomas Hick)

Hotel guest leaves origami for cleaning staff, back-and-forth folding battle ensues!

Meg Murphy
Nov 17, 2015

Tipping is a custom often debated in the world of customer service. Proponents of the practice believe workers are more motivated to give better service knowing that they will be paid better for doing so, while opponents argue that it shouldn’t be up to the customer to determine how much the employee gets paid.

But whether working for tips or not, if you treat the one serving you with kindness and respect, they are more likely to go out of their way to give you better service. Take, for example, this poster on Twitter, who left a little origami crane with a tip for the hotel cleaning staff, and in return got an even bigger surprise!

Japan
(folded towels • hotels • origami • small acts of kindness)

Nissan builds an origami car to celebrate the fifth birthday of its Juke crossover 【Video】

Casey Baseel
Nov 11, 2015

It’s been five years since Nissan launched its compact Juke SUV/crossover, and the company is celebrating with a very special fifth anniversary edition: a full-size origami model.

Japan
(cool • Juke • nissan • origami • video)

Meet Orizuru, the origami paper crane that can really fly 【Video】

Oona McGee
Oct 12, 2015

For one special little crane who thought he was destined for greater things than gathering dust on someone’s desk, dreams really can come true. The intricately folded origami bird proved that the sky’s the limit when it comes to development in Japan, as he was released to an enthralled audience of onlookers in Tokyo this week.

So how did the impossible become possible? We take a look at the video of the beautiful bird in flight and the team that gave him functional wings after the break.

Japan
(CEATEC • drone • origami • Orizaru • paper cranes • Tokyo • trade show)

Lexus pays homage to its Japanese workers by building a driveable origami car out of cardboard

Oona McGee
Oct 7, 2015

Lexus has always admired the skills of the craftsmen and women who work on their production lines in Japan. Known as takumi, these highly trained Japanese production workers hone their dexterity skills by learning to fold an origami cat in 90 seconds—using only their non-dominant hand.

Now, Lexus UK has unveiled a stunning tribute to these skilled workers by creating a life-sized replica of the Lexus IS, using 1,700 pieces of laser-cut cardboard in what they’re calling the “Origami Car”. Complete with an electric motor, the cardboard vehicle can actually be driven. With the cardboard seats and interior, it won’t be an entirely practical, or legal, ride, but it would certainly be a memorable one!

Europe, Japan
(cardboard • cars • design • Lexus • origami • TOYOTA)

Watch this magical cloth return to its origami form after being stretched out

Preston Phro
Sep 25, 2015

Origami is one of Japan’s most well-known art forms**.** At its simplest, even children can enjoy it, and at its most complicated, it can be used for commercial purposes and designs. Now, one company has created special pieces of cloth that will automatically refold into their original origami forms after being stretched out. There doesn’t seem to be any particular, unique benefit to these pieces of fabric, but we sure want some!

Check out the mesmerizing video below!

Japan
(cloth • cool • crafts • origami • Perrocaliente)

Night of paper-folding with a Japanese friend leads to creation of beautiful “origami jewellery”

Oona McGee
Sep 15, 2015

With so many traditional arts, customs and practices, it’s not hard to fall in love with Japanese culture. For one French couple, it was a night of origami paper-folding with a Japanese friend that left a big impression. Intrigued by the art, they set upon a journey to recreate the folded designs in metal and not long afterwards, a gorgeous jewellery collection was born, featuring delicate animals, birds, crustaceans and dinosaurs.

Europe, Global, Internet
(france • jewellery • origami • paper • traditional crafts)

Origami for books! Turn your old hardcovers into awesome 3-D art with OruFun

Casey Baseel
Aug 27, 2015

People are often loathe to part with their books, even after they’ve finished reading them. Thick, hardbound editions in particular have a sense of presence that entices literature lovers to hang on to them.

Sure, maybe you’re never going to go back and leaf through that heavy tome again, but doesn’t it look stately as it sits on the shelf? It might, but it would look a lot cooler if you used the pages to make one of these amazing folded paper pieces of art.

Internet
(art • books • cool • crafts • folding • origami)

Now you can be the coolest ninja on the block with these awesome origami shuriken

Meg Murphy
May 20, 2015

Origami is known worldwide as the art of paper-folding, and while most people associate it with Japanese culture, it also has history in China and Europe as well. We’re not sure what it is, but there is something strangely satisfying about turning a flat piece of paper into a three-dimensional model resembling anything from flowers to animals to vehicles.

One particularly fun shape to make are ninja throwing-stars, like the ones you see above. If you’re in the mood for some crafts and would like to give it a try, follow us after the jump to get started!

Japan
(crafts • Ninja • origami • shuriken • throwing stars)

Japanese restaurant chain turns boring old chopstick sleeves into fun origami

Preston Phro
Jan 20, 2014

Family restaurants like Saizeriya are a staple of Japan’s cheap culinary world. From fake Italian food to fake Mexican-Indian hybrids that taste far better than they really should, family restaurants are a great place to hangout for high school students, to grab a quick meal between meetings for harried salarymen, or to take hungry kids for frazzled parents. Though convenient, the chains aren’t exactly known for their high class presentation.

However, Aiya, a family restaurant focused on Japanese-style cooking, has come up with a way to offer their customers a bit more pizazz!

Japan
(Aiya • chopsticks • dining • origami • restaurants)

Impress house guests with toilet paper origami!

Oona McGee
Nov 25, 2013

Hotel and restaurant bathrooms have really done a number on us by introducing a new level of hospitality through toilet paper etiquette. When the next sheet of paper on the roll is folded into a neat triangular point, we’re made to feel that extra bit special, safe in the knowledge that the area has recently been attended to, as if the place was just done up in anticipation of our arrival.

One lady in the United States has taken the triangular toilet paper fold to a whole new level, incorporating traditional Japanese origami concepts to produce a book of cute, funny and surprisingly beautiful designs to dress up the toilet roll in your bathroom. From swans to candles, who knew toilet paper could be so adorable?

Global, Japan, USA
(crafts • origami • Toilets)

Eight fun fall origami designs!

Michelle Lynn Dinh
Oct 31, 2013

Fall is in full swing and that means we’re all able to enjoy what this chilly season has to offer. Red and golden leaves, chestnuts, apples…all the things that remind us of autumn! For those with a little patience and some artistic ability, you can even create origami versions of these seasonal favorites. Take a look at the following eight origami designs and learn how to make them yourself!

Global, Japan
(autumn • craft • fall • origami)

The future of eco-friendly electronics? Samsung introduces new line of origami-inspired printers

Andrew Miller
Aug 28, 2013

Samsung is known the world over for its stylish, high-quality products, but we doubt that anyone could have predicted the latest creation from Korea’s premier electronics maker. Let us introduce you to a brand new range of eco-friendly printers that are all inspired by none other than the art of origami.

Korea
(design award • eco-friendly • electronics • origami • tech)

Incredible (and almost impossible) paper craft – this rose doesn’t smell sweet but certainly is beautiful!

Kay
Jun 16, 2012

Do you enjoy the Japanese paper craft of origami? If you do, here’s a video that’s sure to fascinate you! The video shows an exquisite paper rose being made, and it’s been receiving a considerable amount of attention recently – and not just for the impressive skill demonstrated. It’s actually causing many internet viewers to cry out in frustration, and once you see the video, you’ll know the reason why. Read More