What age is this origami Kashiwa Mochi for?

About Age 3+. It is rated “First Fold” (level 1 of 5), with 4 steps, and takes about 4 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 “かしわもち” (柏餅). 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.

★First Fold FoodOriginal

How to make an origami Kashiwa MochiかしわもちKashiwa Mochi

A rice cake wrapped in an oak leaf, eaten on Children’s Day. The white side of green paper becomes the mochi peeking out.

4 steps
about 4 min
1 sheet of origami paper
Age 3+

How to fold

白い面を上にして、上のふちを、下のふちの少し上まで折る
Start with the white side up. Fold the top edge down to just above the bottom edge.
下に白いところが少し見えるように。これがおもちです。
下の左右のかどを、大きくうしろへ折る
Fold the bottom corners behind, making big slanted folds.
のこりのかどを、少しうしろへ折ってまるくする
Fold the remaining corners behind a little to round the shape.
上下をさかさまにする
Turn it upside down.
できあがり！葉っぱのすじをかいたら、かしわもちのできあがり！こいのぼりやかぶとといっしょにかざろう。
Finished! Draw the leaf veins, and your kashiwa mochi is finished! Display it with a koinobori or a samurai helmet.

Fun fact

かしわの木は、新しい芽が出るまで古い葉が落ちません。そこから「家がずっとつづくように」というねがいがこめられています。

Oak trees keep their old leaves until new buds grow, so the leaf is a wish for the family to continue for a long time.

Origami English in this model

corner角
edge辺（ふち）
white side白い面（裏）
oakかしわ・オーク
leaf葉っぱ
rice cakeおもち

❓ FAQ

What age is this origami Kashiwa Mochi for?: About Age 3+. It is rated “First Fold” (level 1 of 5), with 4 steps, and takes about 4 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 “かしわもち” (柏餅). 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.