How to make an origami Masu BoxますMasu Box
A square Japanese box called a masu. It is strong, and you do not need any glue. Use it for candy or paper clips.
★★★Masu Box (Medium)★★★★Box with Lid (Challenge)
- 5 steps
- about 12 min
- 1 sheet of origami paper
- Age 7+
5
How to fold
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ななめ半分に折って、折りすじをつける（2回）
Fold in half diagonally both ways and unfold.
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四つの角を、まん中に合わせて折る
Fold all four corners to the center.
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上と下のふちを、まん中の線に合わせて折りすじをつける
Fold the top and bottom edges to the center line and unfold.
しっかり折りすじをつけると、あとで箱が立てやすくなります。
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左と右のふちも、まん中の線に合わせて折りすじをつける
Fold the left and right edges to the center line and unfold.
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できあがり！ここから立体にします。①左右のふちを立てて、かべにする。②上のはしの折りすじをつまんで、かべを立てながら、上の三角を箱の内側へかぶせて、底までおろす。③下も同じようにしたら、ますのできあがり！
Finished! Now make it 3D. 1) Lift the left and right edges to make two walls. 2) Pinch the creases at the top end, raise the end wall, and fold the top triangle over into the box, down to the bottom. 3) Do the same at the bottom. Your masu box is finished!
しっかり折りすじをつけると、あとで箱が立てやすくなります。Fun fact
「ます」は、むかしお米やお酒の量をはかった木の入れ物です。いまでも、お祝いの席でお酒を飲むのに使われます。
A masu was a wooden box used long ago to measure rice and sake. People still use it to drink sake at celebrations.
Origami English in this model
- unfold開く（元に戻す）
- fold in half半分に折る
- corner角
- edge辺（ふち）
- center line中心線
- triangle三角形
- box箱
- wallかべ
- bottom底（そこ）
- lidふた
❓ FAQ
- What age is this origami Masu Box for?
- About Age 7+. It is rated “Medium” (level 3 of 5), with 5 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 “ます” (枡). 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.
