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Yakko-san

How to fold an origami yakko-san

Paper
One square sheet of paper.
Preparation
No cutting or gluing is included in these folding steps. Begin with “Mark the center by folding side to side, then unfold”.
What you will make
A flat Yakko-san with a closed head, two sleeves, and a kimono body. Trousers are not included.

Make a traditional Yakko-san from one square sheet. Crease the center in both directions, then fold all four corners to the center three times, turning over between rounds. Face the four pockets toward you and open and squash the bottom, left, and right pockets in order. Leave the top pocket closed for the head.

Follow the 20 steps above by scrolling. Drag the model to inspect a fold from another angle, and scroll back to review a previous step.

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Read all 20 folding steps
  1. Mark the center by folding side to side, then unfold
  2. Crease top to bottom, then unfold
  3. Round 1: fold corner 1 to the center
  4. Round 1: fold corner 2 to the center
  5. Round 1: fold corner 3 to the center
  6. Round 1: fold corner 4 to the center
  7. Turn the paper over
  8. Round 2: fold corner 1 to the center
  9. Round 2: fold corner 2 to the center
  10. Round 2: fold corner 3 to the center
  11. Round 2: fold corner 4 to the center
  12. Turn the paper over
  13. Round 3: fold corner 1 to the center
  14. Round 3: fold corner 2 to the center
  15. Round 3: fold corner 3 to the center
  16. Round 3: fold corner 4 to the center
  17. Turn the four pockets toward you
  18. Open the bottom pocket and squash it flat
  19. Open the left pocket to form a sleeve
  20. Open the right pocket to form a sleeve

Tricky points and what to check

I cannot find the four pockets

Steps to review: 7・12・17

Turn the whole paper over between rounds of corner folds. Turn it once more after the third round to face the four central pocket openings toward you.

The head opens as well

Steps to review: 18・19・20

Open only the bottom, left, and right pockets. Keep both roots connected as you spread each opening and squash it into a rectangle. Leave the top pocket closed.

Step 18：Open the bottom pocket and squash it flat

Three views from the same 3D folding sequence. Read from top to bottom.

Four pockets after three rounds of corner folds and a final turn
Four pockets after three rounds of corner folds and a final turn

After step 17. Compare with the next image to identify the part that moves.

Before：After step 17. Compare with the next image to identify the part that moves.
Both sides of the bottom pocket opening together
Both sides of the bottom pocket opening together

Open the central mouth of the bottom pocket and squash it into a rectangle while keeping both roots connected.

During：Open the central mouth of the bottom pocket and squash it into a rectangle while keeping both roots connected.
Bottom pocket opened and squashed into a rectangle
Bottom pocket opened and squashed into a rectangle

After “Open the bottom pocket and squash it flat”. Compare the corners and layers with the first image.

After：After “Open the bottom pocket and squash it flat”. Compare the corners and layers with the first image.
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Make a traditional Yakko-san from one square sheet.

Completed origami yakko-san

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