20th July 2022
Words such as sushi and origami are words known all over the world and are words that originated in Japan.
Thinking of the word ‘origami’, ‘oru’ 折る means ‘fold’ and ‘kami’ 紙 means ‘paper’ in Japanese.
It is not so clear if origami, ‘the art of paper folding’, actually started in Japan. It is clear though that having good paper played a part in1 origami becoming popular. Without good enough paper, folding the paper nicely wouldn’t be possible.
Paper started in China in the 2nd century AD and was introduced into Japan in the 6th century. The Japanese improved the paper. Paper waiting for origami to appear? Paper made for origami?
Originally, folding paper was asscociated with2 wrapping offerings3 to the gods. As time passed folded paper became associated with a guarantee4 that a thing was high quality. Rectangular5 paper was folded horizontally6 and was associated with high quality art items7 or swords. The folded paper had a guarantee of the quality of the item written on it.
Origami developed into a fun thing in the Edo period (1603 – 1868) (sixteen oh three to eighteen sixty-eight). Cranes, boats and frogs among other origami appeared. As the years passed, actual toys were created from origami, toys such as the fūsen 風船 (balloon).
Why did origami become so popular in Japan? What do you think?
Certainly origami needs precise8 folding. Japanese are generally very good at folding and wrapping things. You may see folded paper things if in Japan, such as the folded paper in New Year decorations on doors.
Origami is generally small. Some people can make amazingly small origami – minute! Japanese people are generally good with their hands and working on small things is no problem for most people.
Origami is something all children do at pre-school. Being able to do origami is one of the many things pre-school teachers have to be able to do. Children sometimes do it at break time in primary school. There are many origami booklets9 as well as the paper, sold at hundred yen stores.
Things change and with origami that’s the case. Almost always the paper is now square.There is more origami with special patterns printed on it now in the world. This pattern is connected to the final folded structure. What do you think about that?
And most people in the world say using scissors, glue and pens is ok. Not everyone though. What do you think?
Do you think you’re made for10 origami?
One reason that origami is associated with Japan may be that many Japanese are patient11. What type are you? Are you the patient type or the ‘crumple it up’12 type?
1. to ‘play a part in ~’
<Example sentences>
■ The stress at work played a part in her getting sick.
■ Her sister lives in that town and that played a part in her choosing to live there.
■ Getting a car with the job plays a part in many people taking the sales person’s job.
2. to ‘associate ~ with ~’
<Example sentences>
■ What food do you associate with France?
■ Most people associate the beach with summer.
■ What do you associate with your grandfather?
■ Getting bad eyesight is something associated with getting old.
4. a ‘guarantee’ / to ‘guarantee ~’
<Example sentences>
■ This computer has a three year guarantee.
■ Did you get a written guarantee from him or only a spoken one?
■ Does the camera have a guarantee with it?
■ He guaranteed he wouldn’t be late but he’s already ten minutes late.
7. an ‘item’
<Example sentences>
■ Please pay for the items you bought at that cash register.
■ Please check the items that are not allowed on the airplane.
■ My boss gave me a list of items she wanted me to buy.
8. precise
<Example sentences>
■ A dentist needs to be very precise.
■ I don’t want the general price – I want the precise amount I have to pay. Please give me the precise price.
■ Her answers are always precise. They are short and answer the question well.
■ The football player’s penalty was nice and precise. It went into the corner of the net.
10. ‘made for ~’
<Example sentences>
■ She’s made for that shop job! She understands naturally how to speak to people.
■ You’re made for looking after children. You’re so patient!
■ Let’s buy that sofa. It’s made for our living room don’t you think?
11. patient /patience
<Example sentences>
■ To play golf you need to be very patient.
■ I can’t stand in a queue* for two hours at Disneyland. I’m not that patient. Maybe I’m impatient.
■ Please be patient. The call centre is very busy on Monday mornings.
■ He said patience is very important but I think he’s too patient.
queue* – line of people
12. to ‘crumple (up) ~’ / crumpled ~
<Example sentences
■ She crumpled up the receipt and threw it away.
■ You should crumple up some newspaper and put it in your wet shoes to help dry them.
■ In art class we crumpled lots of newspaper to make the model.
■ Please iron your crumpled clothes!
■ I’ve heard about the thousand paper cranes that people make. ~
■ Do you keep the origami you make?
■ We made an origami fortune teller at school. ~
■ What origami things have you made?
■ What origami do you think of?
■ Some origami we can play with. For example the frog, the balloon, the camera. ~
■ Did / Do you ever do origami at school?
- to ‘play a part in’ something means to ‘be one of the reasons’ something happens.
- to be ‘associated with’ something means to be connected with it. It makes you think of that thing.
- in this meaning ‘offering’ means a gift to the gods.
- in this meaning a ‘guarantee’ means a promise that something is of good quality.
- a ‘rectangle’ is a shape, for example the shape of a smartphone or book.
- ‘horizontal’ means a line acoss, from left to right (right to left) – not up and down.
- an ‘item’ means a thing, an object.
- in this meaning ‘precise’ means not away from the line you want. Straight, neat, exact.
- ‘booklets’ are little books that explain about something.
- in this meaning ‘made for’ means ‘suited to’ something. You are naturally able to do that thing.
- in this meaning ‘patient’ means you can wait easily without getting stressed. You stay calm. You don’t do things too quickly.
- in this meaning to ‘crumple’ something means to crush it into folds.