Tokyo-based artist Naoki Onogawa hand-folds thousands of origami cranes with wingspans smaller than half an inch. He then attaches them to little artificial Bonsais, giving the impression of magical bird-covered trees. Their inspiration, though, was anything but magical.
in 2011, Onogawa visited the sites of the Great East Japan Earthquake. While walking around the city of Rikuzen Takata, he came across thousands of tiny paper cranes left at the site of a school destroyed by the event. The paper cranes had been left by visitors as a kind of memorial, and the sight truly touched him.
“I found myself in terror of how powerless we humans are in the face of nature’s wonder; yet at the same time, I felt empowered by the power of life, vitality, that shined so brightly in the aftermath of its wrath. It was like witnessing the result of a desolate ritual where people channeled their unsettled feelings into these cranes. And here they exist, spirited with prayers that they would go back and forward to and from a world beyond here. I struggle to find the words to describe it, but I think that maybe the cranes that I fold now come from that place of solemn prayer.”
– Naoki Onogawa
You can see all of Naoki Onogawa’s beautiful work on Instagram.
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My OBT 
November 17, 2021 at 7:59 am
I don’t care you will never find one in Walmart, I would love to have one in my house. Hal
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November 17, 2021 at 10:51 am
They really are so lovely!
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November 17, 2021 at 9:15 am
My fingers hurt thinking about all that tiny folding..Love them..
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November 17, 2021 at 10:51 am
I imagine eventually, it becomes muscle memory, but the artist must have incredible eyes to work on such a small scale!
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November 17, 2021 at 3:06 pm
Wowzer! The art crafted out of these tiny cranes is beautiful but mostly I find myself marveling at the ability to create micro-origami. My old lady eyes and sausage fingers cannot manage pleasing regular sized origami so I would need magic to be able to do this.
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November 21, 2021 at 10:22 am
I also would need magic, or very small, clever children.
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November 17, 2021 at 4:30 pm
Absolutely mind bogglingly beautiful but…how? The pic showing the cranes in his /hand/ brought home to me how tiny each one is. How does a hand that big fold something so very small???
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November 21, 2021 at 10:22 am
I think he must use tools, but I can’t imagine what they would be!
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November 21, 2021 at 4:59 pm
Me neither. The man is a genius.
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November 18, 2021 at 12:01 am
Amazing skill to be able to do this . . . and amazingly gorgeous pieces of art! LOVE!
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November 21, 2021 at 10:23 am
Learning how to make origami cranes is now on my to do list, though mine will be significantly larger (and less fine).
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January 9, 2022 at 9:58 am
My fingers refuse to think about creating anything like this but I’m glad someone can do it. I have quite a collection of origami cranes left by a former house guest and I am happily and tenderly caring for them all.
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January 9, 2022 at 11:42 am
How sweet of your houseguest to leave them! They’re welcome in my house anytime!
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