Ochanomizu Origami Kaikan has its origin in the paper-dyeing business founded by Kosuke Kobayashi, the first generation of Kobayashi family located in Yushima district in 1858(Ansei 5). Associating with the educational reforms took place in Meiji era (1868-1912), he began to make and sell origami, colored paper for folding, as merchandise for the first time in the world at the request of the Ministry of Education. Afterwards, Origami Kaikan was established in 1972 as a facility to widely promote origami as a Japanese traditional artifact.

Origami has its origin in Shinto Ritual, and it has been evolving since then diversifying into various fields such as manners, games, contemporary origami, medical appliances leading to the future, and origami engineering which is applicable to architecture or aeronautical engineering. Accordingly, I feel that we should protect, cultivate, and hand down origami, as a cultural heritage of Japan, preserved by our predecessor for a long time as a part of our missions.

We founded “International Origami Center”, a nonprofit organization, in 2006, and have been promoting understanding and acquisition of knowledge of origami and expanding opportunities to contribute to the society through “origami” as a Japanese traditional artifact.

Nowadays, origami is spelled seven-character-word “ORIGAMI”, and the “ORIGAMI” lovers are scattered throughout the world. Also, the merit of origami is being recognized once again as means of rehabilitation and therapy as well as hobbies.

Accordingly, it is natural that fingers are referred to as “the second brain” such that legs are referred to as “the second heart.” Now origami is expanding into people's daily lives with various themes such as “Japanese traditional culture”, “art created with a piece of paper”, or “entertainment that can be enjoyed by everyone from children to adults” Origami is “fun to fold” and “delightful to display”, and it is a pleasing gift for everyone.

So relax and flex your fingers and enjoy folding Origami.