ORIGAMI JOURNEY

I have received permission to publish the image of Sweet Lips from the Ochanomizu Origami Kaikan.

Here is the link to The Ochanomizu Origami Kaikan (museum).

At the International Airport:

Imagine you are at an international airport. What if you are given a piece of charming paper with the words “Welcome to Japan” and were told to use it for a foreign tourist? What would you like to do with it?

You might do the following:

1. Write a welcome message: You could write a message or letter in Japanese.
2. Make origami: Fold the paper for relaxation or fun.

The Ochanomizu Origami Kaikan:

Most people around the world are familiar with the global art of origami. Did you know that the Origami Museum is situated in the heart of Tokyo? It is called the Ochanomizu Origami Kaikan.

Why not visit the museum to discover something unique (one of a kind) for yourself? They have various beautiful kinds of washi paper and many stunning creations on display and for sale.

If you are lucky, you will get a chance to meet the museum’s president. He is an amiable and knowledgeable gentleman who will communicate with you by folding origami pieces right before your eyes twice a day, in the morning and afternoon. It depends on his schedule, though.

His English might not be perfect, but you will surely enjoy the experience and his great hospitality.

Sweet Lips

When I first visited there, red, shiny lips captured me and whispered, “It’d be nice if I could be your friend.”

The sexy lips reminded me of Audrey Hepburn’s quote:

“For beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness. For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others.”

As I want to have beautiful lips, I bought the Origami (Sweet Lips) set. From this first meeting of the lips, my Origami journey started.

Origami Journey: Encounters that brightened up my day.

# 1
Let me share one of my experiences. I led five or six elementary school students to Narita Airport during summer vacations. We conducted surveys with tourists, asking in English about their home country, the purpose of their visit, and their occupation. As a thank you, we gave them origami creations: lips, shuriken, tops, cakes, things for kids, etc.

I was surprised to learn that many Americans working for the U.S. Marines, Army, Navy, and Air Force visited Japan.

# 2
Whenever I stayed at a hotel, I left a $1 shirt as a tip and inserted it in a pink heart with wings. That was a “Thank You” note for the hotel staff cleaning my room.

# 3
Oftentimes, I had a conversation with the next person on a flight. Origami artworks, including the Sweet Lips, were perfect tools for starting communication with passengers. A lovely couple offered to share the taxi with me at JFK. That was an unexpected kindness that made my day.

# 4
Once I visited New York, and a public library was next to my B&B.
I had an origami workshop there for locals. Through the communication tool, origami, I made a friend with a librarian, and we went to the Blue Note to enjoy the live concert by Hiromi Uehara who is a Japanese jazz pianist.

Takeaway from the Visit Origami Kaikan

I found it fantastic that we have the ability to transform a single piece of paper into something incredible without using any special machines, just with our hands. We have ten fingers. With just one piece of paper and ten fingers, we can create something anywhere. While playing with paper at work might not be the best choice, it’s also when new creations can come to life.

Origami’s Charming

Origami is a wonderful activity with benefits for both children and adults, offering unique advantages for each generation.

For children, origami helps:

Improve fine motor skills  Develop creativity and focus Enhance spatial awareness by transforming flat paper into 3D shapes Boost confidence and a sense of achievement

For adults, origami provides:

Brain stimulation to maintain cognitive function Relaxation by reducing stress and promoting calmnessOpportunities for communication and bonding with others Hand exercise, useful for joint and muscle rehabilitationA way to nurture creativity and appreciation for beauty

Origami is more than just a pastime: it’s a tool for learning and healing, adaptable to all ages and full of meaningful benefits.

Here are the links to the Ochanomizu Origami Kaikan (museum), the video on how to make sweet lips, and the Origami Club.

Ochanomizu Origami Kaikan (museum)
How to make Sweet Lips
Origami Club

I hope you will manage to visit the Ochanomizu Origami Kaikan and be embraced by fantastic artwork.
Thank you for reading my article and listening to my recording.

# Koban(Police Box) is my first article for How To Japan.