日本語

How to make an origami Maple Leafもみじ(チャレンジ)Maple Leaf (Challenge)

A maple leaf with five pointed tips, just like a real one. Make a waterbomb base, then fold its four flaps in different directions to make the tips.

★★Maple Leaf (Easy)

How to fold

  1. 色の面を上にして、三角に折って折りすじをつける(2回)

    Start with the colored side up. Fold in half into a triangle and unfold. Do it both ways.

  2. 下のふちを上のふちに合わせて半分に折り、折りすじをつける

    Fold in half from bottom to top and unfold.

    この折りすじは、次にたたむとき山折りになります。

  3. 折りすじにそって、左右を内側へたたみ、三角にする(ふうせんの基本形)

    Collapse along the creases: push the left and right sides in and flatten it into a triangle. This is the waterbomb base.

    まん中をつまんで、左右のふちのまん中を内側へおしこむと、自然に三角になります。

  4. 前の羽の先を、下のまん中から、ななめ上へ折る(左右)

    Fold the front flaps up at an angle from the middle of the bottom edge, on both sides.

    前の羽(2まい重なっています)だけを折ります。うしろの羽は残します。

  5. うしろの羽の先も、下のまん中から、ななめ上へ うしろに折る(左右)

    Fold the back flaps up at a lower angle, behind, on both sides.

    前の羽より、横に寝かせて折ると、5つの先がきれいに広がります。

  6. できあがり!葉のすじと くきをかいたら、もみじのできあがり! 赤・黄色・オレンジで折って、秋のリースやカードにかざろう。

    Finished! Draw the veins and the stem, and your maple leaf is finished! Fold red, yellow and orange leaves for autumn cards.

Fun fact

日本のもみじ(イロハモミジ)の葉は、5つから7つに先がわかれています。秋に寒くなると、葉が赤くかわります。

The leaves of the Japanese maple have five to seven pointed tips. They turn red when it gets cold in autumn.

Origami English in this model

❓ FAQ

What age is this origami Maple Leaf for?
About Age 7+. It is rated “Medium” (level 3 of 5), with 5 steps, and takes about 10 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 “もみじ(チャレンジ)” (紅葉). 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.

Print & download

Practice sheet with crease linesJust fold on the lines

Other versions — easier or harder

Fold this next