What age is this origami Boy in Hakama (Shichi-Go-San) for?

About Age 7+. It is rated “Medium” (level 3 of 5), with 10 steps, and takes about 15 minutes.

What paper do I need?

2 sheets of origami paper (black for the jacket, gray or striped for the hakama) No scissors or glue are needed.

What is it called in Japanese?

In Japanese it is “七五三・はかまの男の子” (七五三の男の子). 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.

★★★Medium Seasons & HolidaysOriginal

How to make an origami Boy in Hakama (Shichi-Go-San)七五三・はかまの男の子Boy in Hakama (Shichi-Go-San)

A boy wearing a haori jacket and hakama for Shichi-Go-San. The pleats of the hakama are made with pleat folds. You use two sheets of paper.

10 steps
about 15 min
2 sheets of origami paper (black for the jacket, gray or striped for the hakama)
Age 7+

How to fold

上半身（黒い紙）：白い面を上にして、下のかどを上のかどに合わせて折る
Upper body (black sheet): start with the white side up. Fold the bottom corner up to the top corner.
上のかどを1まいだけ、下へ折る（白い顔とえり）
Fold the top corner of the front layer down. The white part becomes the face and collar.
頭の上を、うしろへ折る
Fold the top of the head behind.
左右のかどを、うしろへ折る（はおり）
Fold the left and right corners behind to make the haori jacket.
はかま（はい色の紙）：色の面を上にして、左右のふちを、うしろへ折る
Hakama (gray sheet): start with the colored side up. Fold the left and right edges behind.
うしろで、ふちが少し重なるくらいまで折ります。
下のふちを、うしろへ折る
Fold the bottom edge behind.
左がわに段折りをして、ひだをつくる
Make a pleat on the left side.
谷折りで右へたおしてから、すぐ横でもう一度谷折りして左へもどします。
右がわにも段折りをして、ひだをつくる
Make a pleat on the right side, too.
上の左右のかどを、うしろへ折る（こし）
Fold the top corners behind to shape the waist.
はかまを、上半身のうしろに差しこむ
Slide the hakama under the upper body.
はかまの上を、はおりの下に少し重ねます。のりでとめるとくずれません。
できあがり！髪と顔、家紋（白い丸）、ひもをかいたら、七五三の男の子のできあがり！「きものの女の子」とならべてかざろう。
Finished! Draw the hair, face, family crests (white circles) and the cord, and the boy is finished! Display him with the Girl in Kimono.

Fun fact

七五三では、男の子は5さいで、はかまを着てお宮まいりをします。はかまの前のひだは5本あります。

At Shichi-Go-San, boys aged five wear hakama and visit a shrine.

Origami English in this model

❓ FAQ

What age is this origami Boy in Hakama (Shichi-Go-San) for?: About Age 7+. It is rated “Medium” (level 3 of 5), with 10 steps, and takes about 15 minutes.
What paper do I need?: 2 sheets of origami paper (black for the jacket, gray or striped for the hakama) No scissors or glue are needed.
What is it called in Japanese?: In Japanese it is “七五三・はかまの男の子” (七五三の男の子). 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.