What age is this origami Hakama for?

About Age 7+. It is rated “Medium” (level 3 of 5), with 11 steps, and takes about 12 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 “はかま”. 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 Japanese TraditionTraditional

How to make an origami HakamaはかまHakama

Hakama are wide pleated pants from old Japan, and these ones are for your Yakko-san. Start like Yakko-san with three blintz folds, squash the top and bottom pockets, then pull out the hidden triangles to make two legs.

★★★Yakko-san (Medium)

11 steps
about 12 min
1 sheet of origami paper
Age 7+

How to fold

半分に折って、折りすじをつける（たて・よこ）
Fold in half both ways and unfold.
四つの角を、まん中に合わせて折る（ざぶとん折り）
Fold all four corners to the center. This is the blintz fold.
うらがえす
Turn it over.
もう一度、四つの角をまん中に合わせて折る
Fold the four corners to the center again.
うらがえす
Turn it over.
もう一度、四つの角をまん中に合わせて折る（3回め）
Fold the four corners to the center one more time.
うらがえす。小さな四角が4つ見える
Turn it over. You can see four small squares.
上の四角の袋に指を入れて開き、長方形につぶす（はかまのこし）
Put your finger into the top square pocket, open it, and squash it flat into a rectangle. This is the waist of the hakama.
まん中のすきまから指を入れて、外の角へむけて広げると、きれいな長方形になります。
下の四角も、同じように長方形につぶす
Squash the bottom square into a rectangle in the same way.
下半分を、うしろへ折る
Fold the bottom half behind.
うしろの左右の三角を、下へ引き出して開き、足にする
Pull the hidden triangles on the left and right down from behind. Open them out to make the two legs.
うしろの三角をつまんで下へ引き出し、外がわの紙をななめ外へ開いて、平らにおさえます。
できあがり！はかまのできあがり！やっこさんの下のはしを、はかまの上のすきまにさしこんで、はかせてあげよう。
Finished! Your hakama is finished! Slide the bottom of your Yakko-san into the slit at the top of the hakama so he can wear them.

Fun fact

はかまは、きものの上にはく、すそが広いズボンのような服です。いまでも七五三や卒業式、剣道や弓道などではかれています。

Hakama are wide, pleated trousers worn over a kimono. People still wear them today for Shichi-Go-San, graduation ceremonies, and martial arts such as kendo and kyudo.

Origami English in this model

❓ FAQ

What age is this origami Hakama for?: About Age 7+. It is rated “Medium” (level 3 of 5), with 11 steps, and takes about 12 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 “はかま”. 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.