How to make an origami Owlふくろう（チャレンジ）Owl (Challenge)
An owl spreading its wings — a challenge model. From the bird base you combine inside reverse folds, folded-down petals and small finishing folds.
- 20 steps
- about 25 min
- 1 sheet of origami paper
- Age 10+
20
How to fold
-
三角に折る
Fold in half to make a triangle.
-
さらに半分の三角に折る
Fold in half again.
-
うらがえす
Turn it over.
-
こちらも袋を開いて、四角につぶす（正方基本形）
Squash this side into a square, too. This is the preliminary base.
-
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 lower edges to the center line and unfold.
-
上の三角を折って、折りすじをつける
Fold the top down and unfold.
-
1まいめを下から持ち上げて、ふちを折りすじで内側へ（花弁折り）
Lift the bottom corner of the top layer and fold the sides in along the creases (petal fold).
上の折りすじが「ちょうつがい」。左右のふちが まん中で ぴたりと合うように、ゆっくり持ち上げます。
-
うらがえす
Turn it over.
-
こちらも、下のふちをまん中に合わせて折りすじをつける
Fold the lower edges to the center line and unfold.
-
こちらも花弁折り（鶴の基本形）
Petal fold this side, too. This is the bird base.
-
左の足を、中わり折りで外へ広げる（つばさ）
Inside reverse fold the left point out to the side. This is a wing.
足の先を少し開いて、折りすじのところで内側へおしこみます。つばさは少し下向きに。
-
右の足も、同じように広げる
Reverse fold the right point out in the same way.
-
手前の花弁を、下へ折る（むね）
Fold the front petal down. This is the chest.
-
うしろの花弁は、うしろへ下ろす（しっぽ）
Fold the back petal down behind. This is the tail.
-
頭の先を、少し下へ折る（耳ができる）
Fold the top point of the head down a little. The two corners become ear tufts.
頭のてっぺんが まっすぐになり、左右の角が耳のように立ちます。
-
むねの先を、顔の下まで折り上げる（くちばし）
Fold the tip of the chest up to just under the face. This is the beak.
-
下の角を、うしろへ折る
Fold the bottom point behind.
-
左のつばさの先を、中わり折りで下へ（風切り羽）
Inside reverse fold the tip of the left wing down. These are the flight feathers.
-
右のつばさの先も、同じように中わり折り
Reverse fold the tip of the right wing in the same way.
-
できあがり！大きな目をかいたら、ふくろうのできあがり！ つばさを少し前へ起こすと、今にも飛び立ちそうです。
Finished! Draw the big eyes, and your owl is finished! Lift the wings a little toward you and it looks ready to fly.
上の折りすじが「ちょうつがい」。左右のふちが まん中で ぴたりと合うように、ゆっくり持ち上げます。Fun fact
ふくろうは、首を左右に それぞれ約270度も回すことができます。目が動かないかわりに、首を回して まわりを見ています。
Owls can turn their heads about 270 degrees. Their eyes cannot move in their sockets, so they turn their heads instead.
Origami English in this model
❓ FAQ
- What age is this origami Owl for?
- About Age 10+. It is rated “Challenge” (level 4 of 5), with 20 steps, and takes about 25 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 “ふくろう（チャレンジ）”. 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.
