What age is this origami Deer (Master) for?

About Adults. It is rated “Master” (level 5 of 5), with 46 steps, and takes about 60 minutes.

What paper do I need?

2 sheets (body: brown origami paper, 15 cm — thin paper is easier; antlers: beige paper on both sides, about 7 cm) No scissors or glue are needed.

What is it called in Japanese?

In Japanese it is “しか（マスター）”. 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.

★★★★★Master AnimalsOriginal

How to make an origami Deer (Master)しか（マスター）Deer (Master)

The master version of the Deer. Fold a body with four slender legs, a neck and ears from the bird base, then add branching antlers folded from a second bird base. It uses many inside reverse folds.

46 steps
about 60 min
2 sheets (body: brown origami paper, 15 cm — thin paper is easier; antlers: beige paper on both sides, about 7 cm)
Adults

How to fold

からだ（大きい紙）：三角に折る
Body (large sheet): fold in half to make a triangle.
さらに半分の三角に折る
Fold in half again.
袋を開いて、四角につぶす
Open the pocket and squash it into a square.
うらがえす
Turn it over.
こちらも袋を開いて、四角につぶす
Squash this side into a square, too.
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 lower edges to the center line and unfold.
上の三角を折って、折りすじをつける
Fold the top down and unfold.
1まいめを下から持ち上げて、ふちを折りすじで内側へ（花弁折り）
Lift the bottom corner of the top layer and fold the sides in along the creases (petal fold).
うらがえす
Turn it over.
こちらも、下のふちをまん中に合わせて折りすじをつける
Fold the lower edges to the center line and unfold.
こちらも花弁折り（鶴の基本形）
Petal fold this side, too. This is the bird base.
下のふちを、まん中の線に合わせて折る
Fold the lower edges to the center line.
うらがえす
Turn it over.
下のふちをまん中の線に合わせて折る。上の1まいの上のふちも、まん中の線に合わせて折る
Fold the lower edges to the center line. Fold the upper edges of the top layer to the center line, too.
上の1まいは、あとで前足になります。細くしておくと、すらりとした足になります。
うらがえす
Turn it over.
左半分をうしろへ、半分に折る（山折り）
Mountain fold in half, folding the left half behind.
横向きにして、うらがえす。とがった先が左右にくるように置く
Turn it sideways and turn it over, so the points face left and right.
下の角を、内側へ折りこむ（中わり折り）
Fold the bottom corner up inside (inside reverse fold).
おなかになるところです。角を内側へおしこんで、まっすぐにします。
左の先を、中わり折りで下へ（前足）
Inside reverse fold the left point down to make the front legs.
前足の内側の1本を、上へ引き出す（首）
Pull the inner point of the front legs up to make the neck.
前足は外側の2まいのまま。中にはさまっている先だけを、上へ引き出して折り目をつけます（中わり折り）。
右の先を、中わり折りで下へ（後ろ足）
Inside reverse fold the right point down to make the back legs.
後ろ足の内側の1本を、引き出す（しっぽ）
Pull the inner point of the back legs out to make the tail.
むねの角を、内側へ折りこむ
Fold the corner of the chest inside.
首の先を中わり折りして、頭をつくる
Inside reverse fold the tip of the neck to make the head.
頭の先を中わり折りで上へ返す（耳）
Inside reverse fold the tip of the head back up to make the ears.
先を頭の中へ返すと、鼻先が平らになり、先は頭のうしろから出て耳になります。
しっぽの先を、中わり折りで中へ返す（短いしっぽ）
Inside reverse fold the tip of the tail back inside to make a short tail.
つの（小さい紙）：三角に折る
Antlers (small sheet): fold in half to make a triangle.
さらに半分の三角に折る
Fold in half again.
袋を開いて、四角につぶす
Open the pocket and squash it into a square.
うらがえす
Turn it over.
こちらも袋を開いて、四角につぶす
Squash this side into a square, too.
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 lower edges to the center line and unfold.
上の三角を折って、折りすじをつける
Fold the top down and unfold.
1まいめを下から持ち上げて、ふちを折りすじで内側へ（花弁折り）
Lift the bottom corner of the top layer and fold the sides in along the creases (petal fold).
うらがえす
Turn it over.
こちらも、下のふちをまん中に合わせて折りすじをつける
Fold the lower edges to the center line and unfold.
こちらも花弁折り（鶴の基本形）
Petal fold this side, too. This is the bird base.
上の1まいのふちを、上も下もまん中の線に合わせて折る
Fold the upper and lower edges of the top layer to the center line.
うらがえす
Turn it over.
こちらも、ふちをまん中の線に合わせて折る
Fold the edges to the center line on this side, too.
下の2本の先を、中わり折りでななめ上へ（つののえだ）
Inside reverse fold the two lower points up and out to make the main branches of the antlers.
鶴の首としっぽと同じ折り方です。左右が同じ角度になるように。
えだの先を、かぶせ折りで外へ曲げる
Outside reverse fold the tips of the branches outward.
まん中の2本の先を、前とうしろへ下に折る
Fold the two middle points down, one to the front and one to the back.
鶴のつばさを下ろすのと同じです。まん中にとがった先が残らないようにします。
下ろした先を、ななめ上へ折りかえす（根もとの小さなえだ）
Fold those points back up at an angle, one to the left and one to the right, to make small branches at the base.
つのを、頭の上にのりでつける
Glue the antlers onto the top of the head.
足を少し開いて、立たせる
Open the legs a little and stand the deer up.
できあがり！目をかいて、足を少し開いて立たせたら、しかのできあがり！
Finished! Draw the eyes and open the legs a little so it can stand. Your deer is finished!

Fun fact

おすのシカのつのは、毎年春にぬけ落ちて、また新しく生えかわります。奈良公園には、1000頭くらいのシカがくらしています。

A male deer loses his antlers every spring, and new ones grow back. About a thousand deer live in Nara Park in Japan.

Origami English in this model

❓ FAQ

What age is this origami Deer (Master) for?: About Adults. It is rated “Master” (level 5 of 5), with 46 steps, and takes about 60 minutes.
What paper do I need?: 2 sheets (body: brown origami paper, 15 cm — thin paper is easier; antlers: beige paper on both sides, about 7 cm) No scissors or glue are needed.
What is it called in Japanese?: In Japanese it is “しか（マスター）”. 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.