What is the Japanese name for the hobby of folding paper into boxes and animals, often using multiple sheets?

• A. Folding Paper
• B. Papercraft
• C. Kirigami
• D. Origami

Answer: (D)

Origami is the Japanese art of folding paper into shapes like boxes and animals. The word origami comes from ori, meaning “to fold,” and kami, meaning “paper.” While traditional pieces often start from a single sheet, many forms—like modular origami—use multiple sheets to create more complex structures, which is why this hobby is commonly associated with folding multiple sheets as well. The other terms don’t name the Japanese practice: folding paper is just a description, papercraft is a broad umbrella for many paper projects, and kirigami involves cutting in addition to folding. So the best name for this hobby is origami.