Making An Origami Crane

A paper crane is an ancient origami pattern that symbolizes health and peace. For centuries there were no written directions for folding origami models. The directions were taught to each generation and then handed down to the next. This form of art became part of the cultural heritage of the Japanese people. In 1797, How to Fold 1000 Cranes was published. This book contained the first written set of origami instructions which told how to fold a crane. The crane was considered a sacred bird in Japan. It was a Japanese custom that if a person folded 1000 cranes, they would be granted one wish.

Making an origami crane is not too difficult. Here’s how:

1. Fold the bottom point of a square piece of paper up to meet the top point. Crease and unfold. Repeat for the left and right points.

2. Turn the paper over (one edge should face you) and fold the left edge to meet the right edge. Crease and unfold. Repeat for the top and bottom edges. Rotate the paper so that any point faces you.

3. Grasp the left and right points and push them together and down to meet at the bottom point. Flatten. This step will give you a two-layered, diamond-shaped piece of paper.

4. Fold the lower right edge of the top layer of paper in toward the center so that it lies along the center vertical fold line. Crease and repeat for the lower left edge. Turn the paper over and repeat for the other side.

5. Fold the triangle at the top of the paper down. Crease and unfold. Turn your paper over and repeat. Unfold the flaps made in Step 4.

6. Point the open end of the diamond shape toward you. Bring the bottom point up (top layer only) toward the top point. The left and right points will be drawn inward and the paper will fold backward along the crease made in Step 5. Flatten the paper.

7. Turn your paper over and repeat Step 6. You will have two triangles on either side of the paper that touch at their bases. The two bottom flaps will be the crane’s neck and tail; the top flaps will be the wings.

8. Repeat Step 4 for the longer diamond shape you now have in front of you. This narrows the crane’s neck and tail.

9. Fold the bottom flaps up as far as you can so that their points angle up and out. Crease. Turn the paper over and fold one of the points down to make the crane’s head.

10. Pull the top flaps (wings) down and out so that the center portion of the paper (the crane’s back) is rounded out instead of pointed.

Tips:
Work on a hard surface and sharpen each crease by running your thumbnail or a pencil over it. Sharp creases are essential to the successful completion of this model.

Practice on scrap paper first and then move on to specially made origami paper. Origami paper has the appropriate thickness and weight you will need to achieve clean, sharp creases.

The Irreverence Of Chindogu

There is a prevailing picture of the Japanese as a polite and proper people who, aside from an almost fanatical passion for karaoke (and Frank Sinatra’s My Way), strictly move based on the dictates of tradition and respect. Such a boring picture, isn’t it?

But that is a mental picture of the Japanese before the 1950s. Today, the Japanese is as cosmopolitan as the Europeans, as fashion-forward as the Italians, and yes, as crazy as the Americans – perhaps more so if we are to base it on the popular pastime of useless inventions.

The useless inventions, or Chindogu movement clearly shows the fun and irreverent side to the Japanese. The movement, which was founded by Kenji Kawakami, pokes fun at the spirit of innovation that the Japanese are long known for. It’s a delightful look into the relentless drive of the Japanese to excel as seen through circus mirrors – distorted, irreverent, silly and ultimately delightful. Chindogu also gives us a glimpse at how wild is the imagination of the Japanese. How else would they have thought of dust mops that you attach to your pet cat’s feet so that they can help clean the floors when they are moving? Or the handy sling where you can rest your chin and then attach on to the hand rails of a commuter train if you want to sleep standing up?

One of the ten tenets best describe the spirit of Chindogu: Inherent in every chindogu is the the spirit of anarchy. It has broken free from the chains of usefulness.

Only the Japanese can think of this.

Transcendental Paper Art

I have always admired the Japanese people’s love (or does it already border on obsession?) for precision. Even though their art and culture can sometimes be considered ascetic because of the severity of its rules and the traditions that need to be followed (which could be a reflection of the country’s Zen and Shinto belief). Take for example the traditional art of paper-folding called origami. This Japanese art, which literally means to fold (Oru) paper (kami), transforms a simple piece of paper into exquisite works of art. With a few folds here and there, a one-dimensional sheet of paper becomes a delicate swan, a regal lion, or a mythical dragon. The fact that the word “Kami” is also a homonym for the Japanese word that means spirit or god tells much about this transcendental art. Paper folding becomes a spiritual exercise, a kind of meditation with the hands where you can also contemplate how one form fluidly transforms into another. For me, I see origami as a spiritual experience that is also a delicate form of art, it is rare to see these two worlds meet and as seamlessly as it does in origami. I think Japanese culture has successfully melded spirituality and art in most of its traditional art forms, most especially in origami. It is also typically Japanese that even these traditional arts are being dragged into the 21st century. There is now a new technique called wetfolding where you wet the paper while folding in order to create soft curves as well three dimensional forms.

Gold Found In Japan’s Sewage

One man’s garbage is another man’s gold – or so goes the saying. I doubt that the old adage was meant to be taken literally, though. But in Japan, things have developed in such a way that you can actually take this saying at face value!

According to news reports, which have created much commotion by the way, more gold has been found in a sewage treatment facility than in some of the best gold mines in the world. The sewage treatment facility, called Suwa, is located in Nagano prefecture, northwest of Tokyo. The Telegraph has this story:

Tens of thousands of pounds worth of gold has been found at the Suwa treatment facility in the past year, with more than 1,890 grammes of gold per tonne of ash recorded from incinerated sludge.

But that is not the end of the story! Apparently, one can also find gold from other sources aside from the treatment facility. The same principle applies – equipment and other materials contain gold and other precious metals like silver and when people get rid of them, they all go to the high tech waste dumps. Once there, they are open for the taking.

Now who would have thought about that?

New device for portable karaoke

The Japanese love to karaoke. It could probably even be considered as the national pastime. This love for singing in public (to the usual detriment of the ears of people within listening distance) could only mean that the Japanese will try to develop gadgets that would take karaoke to different platforms.

Take for example the portable karaoke handset that was developed by Logictec. The device, which could be attached to MP3 players like the iPod is the answer to karaoke lovers who just cannot wait to go to karaoke clubs to get their groove on. By attaching the device to the earphone plug of a digital music player you can now sing along with the music in the player. An added bonus is the built in FM radio transmitter that would beam the signal to a nearby radio, effectively widening the range in bad singers can irritate people.

Japan’s “love hotels” now target women

One of the quirky establishments that are part of contemporary Japanese culture are the so called love hotels. These small hotels are used as a clandestine meeting place for lovers and those who have a secret relationship. But over the years, love hotels have begun to diversify and are now trying to market themselves not as a secret rendezvous for illicit affairs but as a place where people can have fun.

One surprising trend is that these hotels are now beginning to cater to women. Different facilities and services are being incorporated the specifically target what women want. Among the new services include the addition of luxurious baths, amenities that cater and pamper women, mimicking the feel of a resort, and entertainment options like DVD players and widescreen TVs. One other service/facility that seems to be a hit among women are sex toys. More and more Japanese women are becoming enamored with sex toys and they usually incorporate it when they have sex with their lovers. There are even some love hotels that provide uniforms for costume play.

Love hotels are definitely one more landmark that a tourist should visit when in Japan.

Man dressed in schoolgirl uniform arrested

Hentai culture in Japan can sometimes go to the most extreme lengths and practices. Take for instance this recent report from one of Japan’s dailies.

A man in Saitama was arrestedby police when he was caught sneaking inside a high school. And what was this pervert wearing? a schoolgirl’s uniform.

The man, 39 year old Tetsunori Nanpei, was reported to have been witnessed exposing himself to passing students from within his car, while it was parked outside the school. Apparently not content with what he was doing, he decided to enter the school wearing the uniform. Fortunately, a number of students recognized him and immediately reported it to school officials. He was promptly nabbed by a teacher, who handed him to the police.

Nanpei admitted that he got the uniform from an online auction. The police reported that he was wearing makeup and a pink bra but with no other underwear.

A story that could’ve been taken straight out of hentai fiction, doesn’t it?

A lack of news about Princess Masako

One of the enigma’s facing the Japanese is the situation of Princess Masako.

When Princess Masako married into the Royal Family in 1993, many people (most of them women) considered it as a triumph that could possibly change the way women are seen in Japanese society. Masako is an accomplished and successful woman, a Harvard graduate and a diplomat who can speak a number of languages. She was seen as challenging the traditions of the Imperial household. But this never came to be. tremendous pressure and stress as a royal has actually made her retreat from the public eye. Now, it has been years since Masako has retreated and there are no signs this is going to change.

The most perplexing part though is the lack of information that is being given to the public with regards to her health. This is quite strange for a member of the Imperial household. And the public is beginning to clamor for more news, which does not seem forthcoming.

A healthier bento box

I’ve always thought of the dishes inside Japanese bento boxes as healthy alternatives to fast food fare. I had this belief that since most of the dishes are stir fried and rarely deep fried then it is a better option.

I was surprised when I read that many people still think that bento meals are not healthy after all. This is especially true of the bento boxes sold at convenience stores. But the Lawson convenience store chain may have heard these comments and have done something about it. The company has recently come out with a bento box that was developed with the help of students at the Kagawa Education Institute of Nutrition.

The newly formulated bento box is said to be much healthier because of the increased use of beans and vegetables. the portions of the healthy food were based on the food balance guidelines set by the health ministry. All branches of the Natural Lawson stores will carry this healthy option.

Wooden keyboard from Marubeni Infotech

The popularity of PC modding as a hobby is a direct response to the universal opinion of computer users that PCs generally look boring. Before modding and personalization became popular, a computer buyer can choose any color for their PC as long as it is beige. The form factors are equally unimaginative, plain, boxes that redefines what spartan means.

Modding has allowed users to really personalize their computers — reflecting their personalities as well as their passions. For the DIYers out there, you can get this nifty device from Marubeni Infotech. It’s a do it yourself wooden keyboard kit that was handcrafted by skilled craftsmen. The kit, which costs 34,800 yen, needs actual assembly, which I know will thrill hobbyists everywhere. The finished product is no slouch either. It is a definite conversation piece. How many people do you know use wooden keyboards, anyway? The keyboard is part of a whole range of wooden PC products that include a USB drive, mousepad, desk organizers, keyboard stands and cable organizers.

DIY Kit, H901K-M/H901KI-W, Marubeni Infotech
34,800 yen