How to ... make an Origami Crane

As Origami Crane is the most well known of all the origami models because it symbolises world peace, we've chosen to show you how to make an Origami Crane :) One may wonder, why does origami crane symbolises world peace. Well, an ancient Japanese legend promises that anyone who folds a thousand origami cranes will be granted a wish by a crane, such as long life or recovery from illness or injury. The Thousand Origami Cranes has become a symbol of world peace through the story of Sadako Sasaki, a Japanese girl who tried to stave off her death from leukaemia as a result of radiation from the atomic bombing of Hiroshima during WWII by making one thousand origami cranes, having folded only 644 before her death, and that her friends completed and buried them all with her.

As we all know, an 8.9 earthquake struck Japan on March 11th, triggering tsunami tidal waves on the northeast part of Japan. Let us pray for all those victims and also for the souls who departed us. By folding one origami crane will sure send our love to those victims and their families.

1. Start with a square piece of paper, coloured side up.

Fold the top corner of the paper down to the bottom corner. Crease and open again. Then fold the paper in half sideways.

2. Turn the paper over to the white side.
Fold the paper in half, crease well and open, and then fold again in the other direction.

3. Using the creases you have made, Bring the top 3 corners of the model down to the bottom corner. Flatten model.

4. Fold top triangular flaps into the centre and unfold

5. Fold top of model downwards, crease well and unfold

6. Open the uppermost flap of the model, bringing it upwards and pressing the sides of the model inwards at the same time.
Flatten down, creasing well.