Origami might technically not have originally been invented in Japan but Japan definitely made a huge contribution to the art so much that most people think of Japan when it comes to origami.

It stands to reason that there would be some amazing looking origami designs based on Japanaese culture and mythology and that’s what this post will explore starting with these origami Thunder God models.

Raijin is the god of thunder and lightening in Shintoism. He’s usually depicted with a collection of drums that he uses to create thunder.

Hojyo Takashi has designed an amazing origami Raijin and the entire model is folded from one single sheet of paper!

God of Thunder, Designed by Hojyo Takashi and Folded by Dzmitry Lysiuk

Diagrams available in the Tanteidan 10th Convention book

God of Thunder, Designed by Hojyo Takashi and Folded by Mariano Zavala B.

Diagrams available in the Tanteidan 10th Convention book

God of Thunder, Designed by Hojyo Takashi and Folded by Tong Liu

Diagrams available in the Tanteidan 10th Convention book

Here’s another different and also awesome God of Thunder design.

Thunder God, Designed and Folded by 驰 张

Instructions not available

Here’s a great very Japanese looking scene folded by Magali.

Folding Girl, Designed by Setsuko Yamashina and Folded by Magali

Diagrams available in Origami Creator 3

When people think of Japanese culture one of the things that always comes to mind is the Japanese samurai and of course there are some great origami samurais.

Samurai, Designed and Folded by Karol Kafarski

Crease pattern available from Karol Kafarski’s Flickr

Samurai, Designed by Karol Kafarski and Folded by NGUYỄN QUANG ANH

Crease pattern available from Karol Kafarski’s Flickr

Tengu are a type of legendary creature in Japanese mythology that are usually depicted with a combination of human and bird-like features. The earliest depictions of Tengu had beaks but over time they started to be represented with really large noses which is the design most people think of today.

Naoki Takeda has designed an incredible origami Tengu and the whole model is folded from one sheet of paper.

Tengu, Designed by Naoki Takeda and Folded by Artur Biernacki

Crease pattern available in Origami Tanteidan Magazine #121

The Nine-Tailed Fox is a very popular creature in Japanese mythology. It originally came out of Chinese mythology and was later introduced to both Japan and Korea. Nine-Tailed foxes appear in a lot of different Japanese myths and stories.

This amazing Nine-Tailed fox or Kyubi no Youko in Japanese is designed by Pham Ngoc Tuan and folded with just one sheet of paper!

Kyubi no Youko, Designed by Pham Ngoc Tuan and Folded by Nguyen Nam Son

Instructions not available

Here’s a different and equally awesome Nine-Tailed Fox model and it’s also folded from just one sheet of paper.

Kyubi, Designed by Tuấn Phạm and Folded by NGUYỄN QUANG ANH

Instructions not available

This next model is a wild boar spirit called Inoshishigami. I’ve seen it represented before in Japanese mythology but I can’t really find much information about it online.

This origami Inoshishigami was designed by Satoshi Kamiya and is folded from one sheet of paper.

Inoshishigami, Designed by Satoshi Kamiya and Folded by Alex Satsukawa

Diagrams available in Works of Satoshi Kamiya 1995-2003

Kei Morisue made an origami version of the White Hare of Inaba who tried to trick a group of crocodiles into making a bridge with their bodies so it could reach an island. Both this crocodile and the hare are folded from the same single sheet of paper.

White Hare of Inaba, Designed by Kei Morisue and Folded by sakuryu(╯3╰)

Diagrams available in the Tanteidan 2011 Special Issue

Here’s another great Japanese looking scene by Magali.

Like in a Dream, Pagoda Designed by Setsuko Yamashina and Folded by Magali

Diagrams available in Works of Origami Four Seasons – Memories

Shibaraku is one of the most popular Kabuki plays in Japan. The plot of the play revolves around the main character Kamakura Gongoro Kagemasa a famous historical warrior known for his bravery. The word Shibaraku means “stop a moment” and the play gets its name from a scene where a samurai is being attacked by several villains. Kamakura Gongoro Kagemasa shouts “Shibaraku!” (stop a moment) from behind the curtain before coming out, defeating the villains and saving the samurai.

Hojyo Takashi designed an amazing origami model based on this character. Every part of this model including the sword is folded from one sheet of paper.

Shibaraku, Designed by Hojyo Takashi and Folded by Mariano Zavala B.

Crease pattern available in World of Super Complex Origami

Shibaraku, Designed by Hojyo Takashi and Folded by Tong Liu

Crease pattern available in World of Super Complex Origami

Here are some excellent photos of the model from multiple angles.

Shibaraku, Designed by Hojyo Takashi and Folded by Nguyen Nam Son

Crease pattern available in World of Super Complex Origami

Shibaraku, Designed by Hojyo Takashi and Folded by Dzmitry Lysiuk

Crease pattern available in World of Super Complex Origami

In Japanese mythology Yatagarasu is a three-legged crow or raven that is a symbol of the will of heaven or of divine intervention in human affairs. Satoshi Kamiya designed an excellent Yatagarasu model using one sheet of paper.

Yatagarasu, Designed by Satoshi Kamiya and Folded by P. Colman

Diagrams available in Tanteidan Magazine #157

Yatagarasu, Designed by Satoshi Kamiya and Folded by Nguyen Nam Son

Diagrams available in Tanteidan Magazine #157

Yatagarasu, Designed by Satoshi Kamiya and Folded by Mariano Zavala B.

Diagrams available in Tanteidan Magazine #157

Here’s a third Japanese scene by Magali.

Dragonflies and Garden Lantern Designed by Setsuko Yamashina, Grass Designed by Shoko Aoyagi all Folded by Magali

Instructions not available

Here are two excellent origami sumo wrestlers with a great colour change in the design.

Sumo Wrestler, Designed by Yoo Tae Yong and Folded by Eyal

Crease pattern available from Yoo Tae Yong’s Flickr

Kendo is a Japanese martial art based on sword fighting. It uses bamboo swords and very distinctive looking protective armour.

Hojyo Takashi has designed an excellent origami model of a Kendo practitioner wearing the traditional armour and very distinctive helmet.

Kendo Warrior, Designed by Hojyo Takashi and Folded by Mariano Zavala B.

Instructions not available

Noh is a major form of Japanese musical drama. This next model is of a Noh player wearing traditional clothes.

Noh Player, Designed and Folded by Yoshimasa Tsuruta

Crease pattern available from Yoshimasa Tsuruta’s Flickr

Our final model for this post is this incredible origami Sanada Yukimura. Sanada Yukimura was a Japanese samurai who is famous for being the general on the defending side of the Siege of Osaka.

Sanada Yukimura was called “a Hero who may appear once in a hundred years” and “Crimson Demon of War” which makes the red paper used in this model an excellent choice.

It’s definitely worth noting that this entire model is folded from one sheet of paper!

Sanada Yukimura, Designed and Folded by Yoshimasa Tsuruta

Instructions not available

That’s it for this post. If you enjoyed it and would like to see more in the future please share it on your social media. It’s a huge help for getting more people to see it and visit the site.

Be sure to check out all these amazing artists as well and leave them some great comments on their Flickr pages.