What age is this origami Kagami Mochi for?

About Age 7+. It is rated “Medium” (level 3 of 5), with 5 steps, and takes about 7 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 “かがみもち” (鏡餅). 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 TraditionOriginal

How to make an origami Kagami MochiかがみもちKagami Mochi

Two round rice cakes with a bitter orange on top, displayed at New Year. Use orange paper: the white side becomes the mochi.

5 steps
about 7 min
1 sheet of origami paper
Age 7+

How to fold

色の面を上にして、下のふちを、上のふちの少し下まで折り上げる
Start with the colored side up. Fold the bottom edge up, almost to the top edge.
上に残った色が、だいだいになります。
下のかどから、左右をななめにうしろへ折る
Fold the sides behind at an angle, from the bottom corners.
まん中より少し下で段折りする（おもちが2だんに）
Make a pleat a little below the middle so the mochi has two tiers.
上をうしろへ折って、少しもどします。
上の2つのかどを、うしろへ折る
Fold the two top corners behind.
下のおもちの、左右のかどを、うしろへ折る
Fold the corners of the lower mochi behind.
できあがり！だいだいの葉っぱをかいたら、かがみもちのできあがり！
Finished! Draw a leaf on the orange, and your kagami mochi is finished!

Fun fact

かがみもちは、お正月に年神さまにおそなえするおもちです。1月11日ごろの「かがみびらき」で、わって食べます。

Kagami mochi is offered to the New Year god. Around January 11 it is broken and eaten in a custom called kagami-biraki.

Origami English in this model

pleat段折り
corner角
edge辺（ふち）
colored side色の面（表）
rice cakeおもち
orangeだいだい・オレンジ
New Yearお正月

❓ FAQ

What age is this origami Kagami Mochi for?: About Age 7+. It is rated “Medium” (level 3 of 5), with 5 steps, and takes about 7 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 “かがみもち” (鏡餅). 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.