How to make an origami Rhinoceros Beetleかぶとむし(チャレンジ)Rhinoceros Beetle (Challenge)
A long forked horn and six bent legs! This challenge version of the rhinoceros beetle is built from five sheets that you fold side by side.

How to fold
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むねとはね(小さい紙):たて半分に折って、折りすじをつける
Back (the small sheet): fold it in half from side to side and unfold.
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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.
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上の2つのかどを、まん中に向けて三角に折る(むねの つの)
Fold the two top corners in toward the middle to make a point. This is the horn on the thorax.
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上を折り下げてから、少し上に折りかえす(段折り)。上が むね、下が はねになる
Fold the top down, then fold it back up a little (a pleat). The top part is the thorax and the bottom part is the wings.
段の高さは 5mm くらい。むねと はねの さかいめが、くっきり出ます。
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あたま(大きい紙)と あし(3まい):4まいとも、三角に折る
Head (the big sheet) and legs (3 sheets): do the same with all four sheets. Fold in half to make a triangle.
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さらに半分の三角に折る
Fold in half again.
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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.
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上の三角を折って、折りすじをつける
Fold the top down and unfold.
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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).
上の折りすじが「ちょうつがい」。左右のふちが まん中で ぴたりと合うように、ゆっくり持ち上げます。
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うらがえして、下のふちをまん中に合わせて折りすじをつける
Turn over. Fold the lower edges to the center line and unfold.
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こちらも花弁折り(鶴の基本形)
Petal fold this side too. This is the bird base.
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下の2本のふちを、まん中の線に合わせて折る(4まいとも)
Fold the lower edges of the two bottom points to the center line (on all four).
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うらがえして、こちらも同じように細くする
Turn them over and narrow this side the same way.
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あたま:2本のふちを、もう一度まん中の線に合わせて折り、さらに細くする(うらも)
Head: fold the edges of the two points to the center line again to make them even thinner. Do the back, too.
つのになる所です。細いほど、かっこよくなります。
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4まいとも、上下の向きをかえる(細い2本が上)
Turn all four pieces upside down so the two thin points are at the top.
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まえあし:2本を、中わり折りで ななめに開く
Front legs: inside reverse fold the two points out at a slant.
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なかあし:2本を、中わり折りで 大きく開く
Middle legs: inside reverse fold the two points out wide.
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うしろあし:2本を、中わり折りで ななめに開く
Back legs: inside reverse fold the two points out at a slant.
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あたま:重なった2本の先を、1本ずつ中わり折りで左右に開く(ふたまたの つの)
Head: the two points lie on top of each other. Inside reverse fold the tip of each one to a different side to make the forked horn.
2本をいっしょに折らないように、1本ずつ開いて折ります。
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6本のあしの先を、中わり折りで曲げて ひざをつくる
Inside reverse fold the ends of all six legs to make the knees.
つけねから半分より少し先で曲げると、あしらしくなります。
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あたまを、むねの下にさしこむ
Slide the head under the thorax.
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まえあしを、むねの下に入れる
Put the front legs under the thorax.
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なかあしを上下さかさにして、はねの下に入れる
Turn the middle legs upside down and put them under the wings.
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うしろあしも さかさにして、はねの下に入れる
Turn the back legs upside down too, and put them under the wings.
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できあがり!カブトムシのできあがり! つのを少し上に そらせると、本物みたいに かっこよくなります。
Finished! Your rhinoceros beetle is finished! Bend the horn up a little to make it look just like a real one.
Fun fact
つのがあるのは オスだけです。木のしるの えさ場で、つのを ほかのオスの体の下に入れて、投げとばして たたかいます。
Only male rhinoceros beetles have horns. At trees with sweet sap, they slide the horn under another male and flip him away.
Origami English in this model
- unfold開く(元に戻す)
- crease折りすじ(折りすじをつける)
- turn over裏返す
- open開く
- lift持ち上げる
- fold in half半分に折る
- petal fold花弁折り
- inside reverse fold中わり折り
- pleat段折り
- bird base鶴の基本形
- corner角
- edge辺(ふち)
- layer(重なった紙の)一枚
- pocketふくろ(ポケット)
- center line中心線
- square正方形
- triangle三角形
- rhinoceros beetleカブトムシ
- hornつの
- insectこん虫
- kneeひざ
- wingはね
- maleオス
❓ FAQ
- What age is this origami Rhinoceros Beetle for?
- About Age 10+. It is rated “Challenge” (level 4 of 5), with 27 steps, and takes about 50 minutes.
- What paper do I need?
- 5 sheets of paper that are brown on both sides (one sheet about 14 cm for the head, three sheets about 12 cm for the legs, and one sheet about 13 cm for the back) No scissors or glue are needed.
- What is it called in Japanese?
- In Japanese it is “かぶとむし(チャレンジ)”. 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.








