Origami   Workshop   ( 2007 )

JAAI in association with JICA India Office organised a one day Origami Workshop on 4th February, 2007 at WWF-India, Lodi Estate, New Delhi.

Origami, a traditional Japanese art of Paper-folding, is an important aspect of Japanese ancient cultural heritage. This programme was organized as a symbol of cultural cooperation and to promote better understanding of the Indian and Japanese cultures.

The workshop was conducted by Mrs. Hitomi Ashta, a qualified Origami teacher and also a Member of Japanese Origami Association. Along with her husband, she also runs an Organisation Business-India/Japan, which is engaged in promoting cultural and business relations between the two countries. She started the workshop with a brief introduction on the advantages of doing origami. The programme was divided into two sessions with tea-break in-between. The first session was a warm-up exercise of making simpler objects like house, piano, purse, rabbit, and balloon. The extended application of balloon to make other objects was also demonstrated. The second session started with was making crane (a Japanese symbol of peace and good wishes). It then switched over to slightly tougher exercise of doing Modular Origami (Refer:website) in which three-dimensional objects like cuboid, star etc. were made. Participants were also given an Origami book authored by the Instructor, Ms. Hitomi Ashta to facilitate conducting of the workshop as well as doing origami at home.

The programme was open for active JAAI members and their families. About 120 persons including children participated in the programme. The response of the participants was very enthusiastic. Children as well as adults took active part in making various objects. Origami workshop turned out to be not only fun but also a valuable method for developing vital skills. The art of paper-folding helps people to increase their power of systematic thought process. People appreciated the creativity and imagination involved in it. Participants interacted freely with the Instructor to clear their doubts and learn the intricacies involved in this art.

The programme was followed by High-Tea. The feedback from the members was encouraging as the event was meticulously organized and gave the participants ample time and opportunity to interact with the Instructor and learn the art of Origami.