Kusudama

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Two variations of kusudama.
Two variations of kusudama.

The Japanese kusudama (薬玉; lit. medicine ball) is a paper model that is created by sewing several pyramidal units together through their points to form a spherical shape. Occasionally, a tassel is attached to the bottom for decoration. They originate from ancient Japanese culture, where they were used for incense and potpourri. The word itself is a combination of two Japanese words kusuri, Medicine, and tama, Ball. They are now typically used as decorations, or as gifts.

The Kusudama is important in origami particularly as a precursor to the modular origami genre. It is often confused with modular origami, but is not such because the units are strung together instead of folded together. It is, however, still considered origami, although origami purists frown upon using its characteristic technique of threading the units together.


Video tutorial: How to Fold a Japanese Paper Ball (Kusudama)

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