How to make a Japanese gift wrap
Japanese Gift Wrapping: try all 14 steps in the 3D player. Turn and replay every move. Print the complete diagram sheet or save it as PDF.
A diagonal gift wrap in the Japanese style, with no scissors or cuts: set it square on a sheet turned corner up, raise the paper up its sides so each box corner pinches into a neat pleat, press the pleats flat, and fold the four corners over the lid to meet in the middle.
- You need
- One square of wrapping paper, tape and a square box of about 12 × 12 × 8 cm.
- Start
- Lay the paper pattern side down with a corner pointing at you. Set the box on its middle with its sides facing the paper's four corners. The paper is right when each corner, folded up over the box, just reaches the middle of the lid.
- Tips
- For a box of width W and height H, cut the square with a diagonal of 2 × (W + H), so each corner just reaches the middle of the lid.
- Crease against the box itself, so the pleats fall exactly on its corners.
- A slightly larger square lets the corners overlap on the lid, which is easier to tape.
Your model is ready
The box is wrapped. Tape the four points together in the middle of the lid, or cover them with a sticker or a bow. The wrapped box, its four corners meeting on the lid and a pleat at every corner.
Step-by-step diagrams
Steps 1–5
- 1
Crease along the box's back bottom edge
Fold the paper up against the box's back side to mark its bottom edge, press the crease sharp, and open it again.
- 2
Crease along the box's right bottom edge
Fold the paper up against the box's right side to mark its bottom edge, press the crease sharp, and open it again.
- 3
Crease along the box's front bottom edge
Fold the paper up against the box's front side to mark its bottom edge, press the crease sharp, and open it again.
- 4
Crease along the box's left bottom edge
Fold the paper up against the box's left side to mark its bottom edge, press the crease sharp, and open it again.
- 5
Crease along the box's back top edge
Fold the back corner of the paper back where it meets the top edge of the box's back side, press the crease, and open it again.
Steps 6–10
- 6
Crease along the box's right top edge
Fold the right corner of the paper back where it meets the top edge of the box's right side, press the crease, and open it again.
- 7
Crease along the box's front top edge
Fold the front corner of the paper back where it meets the top edge of the box's front side, press the crease, and open it again.
- 8
Crease along the box's left top edge
Fold the left corner of the paper back where it meets the top edge of the box's left side, press the crease, and open it again.
- 9
Raise the paper up the four sides
Lift the paper up all four sides of the box at once. At each box corner the spare paper pinches out into a flat pleat that stands away from the corner.
- 10
Press each pleat against a side
Lay each corner pleat flat against the left or right side of the box, so the two pleats on each of those sides point toward each other.
Steps 11–14
- 11
Fold the back corner over the lid
Fold the back corner of the paper over the top edge onto the lid, so its point reaches the middle of the lid.
- 12
Fold the right corner over the lid
Fold the right corner of the paper over the top edge onto the lid, so its point reaches the middle of the lid.
- 13
Fold the front corner over the lid
Fold the front corner of the paper over the top edge onto the lid, so its point reaches the middle of the lid.
- 14
Fold the left corner over the lid
Fold the left corner of the paper over the top edge onto the lid, so its point reaches the middle of the lid.
- ✓
Finish
The box is wrapped. Tape the four points together in the middle of the lid, or cover them with a sticker or a bow. The wrapped box, its four corners meeting on the lid and a pleat at every corner.
Fold next
Masu box ↗
Fold the traditional square masu box, with upright walls and both end flaps locked onto the floor.
Masu lid ↗
A matching masu box and lid. Fold the same pattern from two different-sized squares, then turn the larger tray over and fit it onto the smaller box.
Basic box ↗
A rectangular tray with two broad folded rims. This Origami Tutor sequence opens the traditional basic-box shape while keeping its floor flat.
Letter paper box ↗
A deep rectangular box folded from one uncut sheet of letter paper, with narrow rims at both ends. This Origami Tutor sequence opens the traditional basic-box shape without cutting or glue.