What age is this origami Trick Boat (Damashibune) for?

About Age 7+. It is rated “Medium” (level 3 of 5), with 8 steps, and takes about 10 minutes.

What paper do I need?

One sheet of square origami paper (15 cm / 6 in). No scissors or glue are needed.

What is it called in Japanese?

In Japanese it is “だましぶね”. The word origami (折り紙) itself means “folding paper”: ori = fold, kami = paper.

Can I print the instructions?

Yes. “Print the diagram” puts every step on one page (or a PDF), and the practice sheet has the crease lines printed on the paper. Free for home and classroom use.

★★★Medium Toys & GamesTraditional

How to make an origami Trick Boat (Damashibune)だましぶねTrick Boat (Damashibune)

You were holding the sail, but when you open your eyes, you are holding the front of the boat! This old origami toy plays a fun trick. The first steps are the same as the Twin Boats.

★Sailboat (First Fold)★★Sailboat (Easy)★★★Twin Boats (Nisobune) (Medium)

8 steps
about 10 min
1 sheet of origami paper
Age 7+

How to fold

たてと横に半分に折って、折りすじをつける
Fold in half both ways and unfold.
左右のふちを、まん中の線に合わせて折る
Fold the left and right edges to the center line.
上と下のふちを、まん中の線に合わせて折りすじをつける
Fold the top and bottom edges to the center line and unfold.
上のふちを折りすじで下へ折りながら、中の角を左右へ引き出して、平らにつぶす
Fold the top edge down on the crease. At the same time, pull the inside corners out to the sides and flatten them.
角をつまんで外へ引き出すと、とがった三角ができます。
下も同じように、角を左右へ引き出してつぶす（六角形になる）
Do the same at the bottom. Now the paper is a long hexagon.
上の左と右の三角を、ななめの線で上へ折る
Fold the top left and top right triangles up along the slanted lines.
三角のつけねの角を中心に、くるっと上へ向けます。
うらがえす
Turn it over.
右上の部分だけを、下へ折る（右の三角は、へさきにもどる）
Fold only the top right part down. The right triangle goes back to being the tip of the boat.
左上の部分（帆）は、そのまま立てておきます。
できあがり！だましぶねのできあがり！帆の先をおうちの人やともだちに持ってもらって、あそんでみよう。
Finished! Your trick boat is finished! Ask a friend or someone in your family to hold the tip of the sail, and play the trick.

How to play

①あいてに目をつぶってもらい、帆の先をつまんでもらう。②その間に、右の下へ折った部分を上へおこして、帆の下の左がわを下へ折りかえす（さいごに折ったのと反対の動き）。③目をあけてもらうと、帆を持っていたはずが、ふねのへさきを持っている！

1) Ask a friend to close their eyes and pinch the tip of the sail. 2) While their eyes are closed, lift up the part you folded down on the right, and fold the left part under the sail down. 3) When they open their eyes, they are holding the bow of the boat instead of the sail!

Fun fact

だましぶねの帆とへさきは、もとは同じ1つの三角です。三角の向きがかわるだけで、帆にもへさきにもなります。かざぐるまやにそうぶねと同じ「角を引き出す」折り方から作ります。

The sail and the bow of the trick boat are really the same little triangle. It just changes direction. The boat starts with the same pull-out-the-corners folds as the Pinwheel and the Twin Boats.

Origami English in this model

❓ FAQ

What age is this origami Trick Boat (Damashibune) for?: About Age 7+. It is rated “Medium” (level 3 of 5), with 8 steps, and takes about 10 minutes.
What paper do I need?: One sheet of square origami paper (15 cm / 6 in). No scissors or glue are needed.
What is it called in Japanese?: In Japanese it is “だましぶね”. The word origami (折り紙) itself means “folding paper”: ori = fold, kami = paper.
Can I print the instructions?: Yes. “Print the diagram” puts every step on one page (or a PDF), and the practice sheet has the crease lines printed on the paper. Free for home and classroom use.