What age is this origami Samurai Warrior for?

About Age 10+. It is rated “Challenge” (level 4 of 5), with 22 steps, and takes about 35 minutes.

What paper do I need?

2 sheets of origami paper (a 15 cm red sheet for the armor and a 7.5 cm gold sheet for the helmet) No scissors or glue are needed.

What is it called in Japanese?

In Japanese it is “むしゃ”. 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.

★★★★Challenge Japanese TraditionOriginal

How to make an origami Samurai WarriorむしゃSamurai Warrior

A brave samurai warrior in a helmet and armor. This challenge version is made from two sheets: fold the armor and the helmet separately, then put them together.

22 steps
about 35 min
2 sheets of origami paper (a 15 cm red sheet for the armor and a 7.5 cm gold sheet for the helmet)
Age 10+

How to fold

よろい（大きい紙）：白い面を上にして、たて・よこ半分に折りすじをつける
Armor (big sheet): start with the white side up. Fold in half both ways and unfold.
四つの角を、まん中に合わせて折る（ざぶとん折り）
Fold all four corners to the center (blintz fold).
うらがえす
Turn it over.
もう一度、四つの角をまん中に合わせて折る
Fold the four corners to the center again.
うらがえす
Turn it over.
もう一度、四つの角をまん中に合わせて折る（3回め）
Fold the four corners to the center one more time.
うらがえす。小さな四角が4つ見える
Turn it over. You can see four small squares.
上の四角の袋を開いて、長方形につぶす（顔）
Open the top square pocket and squash it into a rectangle. This is the face.
まん中のすきまから指を入れて、外の角へむけて広げます。
左の袋も、長方形につぶす（肩をまもる大袖）
Squash the left pocket into a rectangle, too. This is a shoulder guard (o-sode).
右の袋も、同じようにつぶす
Squash the right pocket the same way.
下の袋も、長方形につぶす（こしをまもる草摺）
Squash the bottom pocket into a rectangle. This is the hip armor (kusazuri).
大袖の外がわの上の角を、うしろへ小さく折る（肩をまるく）
Fold the outer top corners of the shoulder guards behind a little to round the shoulders.
草摺の下の2つの角を、うしろへ小さく折る
Fold the two bottom corners of the hip armor behind a little.
かぶと（小さい紙）：白い面を上にして、三角に折る
Helmet (small sheet): start with the white side up and fold in half to make a triangle.
左右の角を、下の角に合わせて折る
Fold the left and right corners down to the bottom corner.
前の2まいの下の角を、上の角に合わせて折る
Fold the bottom points of the two front flaps up to the top corner.
上の角を、ななめ外へ折ってくわがた（角）をつくる
Fold the top points out at an angle to make the horns (kuwagata).
下の角を1まいだけ、上の角の少し下まで折り上げる
Fold the bottom corner of the top layer up, almost to the top.
もう一度、まん中の線で折り上げる（つば）
Fold it up again along the middle line to make the brim.
のこりの1まいを、うしろへ折る
Fold the last layer behind.
つばの両はしを、うしろへ小さく折る（吹き返し）
Fold both ends of the brim behind a little. These are the side flaps (fukigaeshi).
かぶとを、顔の上にかぶせる
Put the helmet on top of the face.
つばの下に、顔が少し見えるくらいにします。のりで止めると、こわれにくくなります。
できあがり！顔と、よろいの「おどし」（ひものもよう）をかいたら、武者のできあがり！こどもの日に、五月人形のようにかざろう。
Finished! Draw the face and the laced pattern of the armor, and your samurai warrior is finished! Display him on Children’s Day like a May doll.

Fun fact

むかしの武士のよろいは、小さな板（さね）を何百まいもひもでつないで作りました。肩をまもる大きな板を「大袖（おおそで）」、こしから下をまもる板を「草摺（くさずり）」といいます。

Old samurai armor was made of hundreds of small plates tied together with colorful cords. The big shoulder guards are called o-sode, and the plates that protect the hips are called kusazuri.

Origami English in this model

❓ FAQ

What age is this origami Samurai Warrior for?: About Age 10+. It is rated “Challenge” (level 4 of 5), with 22 steps, and takes about 35 minutes.
What paper do I need?: 2 sheets of origami paper (a 15 cm red sheet for the armor and a 7.5 cm gold sheet for the helmet) No scissors or glue are needed.
What is it called in Japanese?: In Japanese it is “むしゃ”. 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.