Yuki Origami

Here's a look back at the Children's Day event at from yesterday! As part of the celebration, I prepared video and diagram tutorials for the workshop and folded late Kawasaki models in tribute to the master to display at the event. Friends William and Steve joined me to demonstrate Kawasaki Roses, and Ayumi gifted us beautiful roses to give away for the guests. During the workshop, I managed to teach my young mentee/helper a 3-minute Rose. Witnessing the master's legacy live on through others brings me joy. Huge thanks to the staff, volunteers, and friends who contributed to this event's success ❤️

https://japanesegarden.org/pjg-events/kodomo-no-hi-childrens-day/2026-05-03/

Kodomo no Hi, Children’s Day – Portland Japanese Garden Discover the joy of the Garden in spring! Many of our flowers have bloomed, creating delightful pops of color throughout our landscape.

Join us for the final Origami Connect of the season on Saturday with
Yuki Martin!

📆 Saturday, May 2

🌸 Trillium with Yuki Martin

🤩 Origami Connect is OrigamiUSA’s program of online classes, open to anyone anywhere in the world, whether or not you are a member of OrigamiUSA. All you need is a computer, tablet, or smartphone.

Inspired by the distinctive three-petaled trillium flower common in Pacific Northwest woodlands, Yuki created an elegant origami representation of this plant.

Participants will fold the flower and leaves from equilateral triangles and the stamen from a 1:4 rectangle, with all components beginning from 6-inch (15 cm) squares.

A BIG thank you to Kathleen Sheridan, all of our teachers and the whole Origami Connect team for a fabulous season!

This Saturday in , Oregon!

Celebrate ocean life with uniquely folded paper sea creatures and vessels at our Celebrating Ocean Life with Origami Workshop, from 12:30 to 3 p.m., Saturday, March 14.

In this workshop, origami instructor Yuki Martin will guide you step-by-step through creating fish, sea lions, and boats. Discover how a single sheet of paper holds infinite possibilities through the art of folding. 🦭 🐟 🛶

No prior experience is necessary, and all materials are provided. This workshop is best suited for participants ages 8 and older. Cost for the workshop is $19, plus $2.49 in processing fees.

Learn more and register at NCLCtrust.org/events

Meet the instructor!
Born and raised in Japan, Yuki rediscovered her passion for origami in 2006 while teaching children, eventually turning the craft into her professional specialty.

Driven by a passion for the infinite possibilities contained within a single sheet of paper, she has shared her craft through teaching at schools, libraries, art organizations, and senior facilities across Oregon and Washington. Yuki is the author of the Super Cute Origami Kit and showcases her work at YukiOrigami.com.

I am deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Dr. Toshikazu Kawasaki , the world-renowned creator of the iconic Kawasaki Roses.

I first met Dr. Kawasaki at the 2014 JOAS Convention, where I was introduced to him by Patsy Wang-Iverson . He asked me to interpret for his Armor Ball class, but the model’s complexity proved too much for me at the time. In a gesture of kindness I will always treasure, he stepped in to provide me with private instruction—a profound honor.

In 2019, we were privileged to host Dr. Kawasaki as a special guest at the PCOC in Portland, made possible by a grant from the Japan Foundation, Los Angeles (). As Portland is the "City of Roses," his presence felt like a perfect fit. The event was a massive success, and having recently retired as a mathematics professor, he seemed to truly delight in his time there.

Just this past January, we reunited in Kyushu after six years. He looked remarkably healthy, fully embracing a post-retirement life of "origami immersion." I learned he had composed over 100 new works in 2025 alone; I was deeply moved by his vitality and inexhaustible passion.

I had no doubt he would continue to innovate for years to come, and I looked forward to folding together again. To hear of his passing is devastating—an immense loss to the global origami community. I offer my heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. May he rest in peace.

世界的な折り紙作家であり、「カワサキローズ」の創作者、川崎敏和先生の突然の訃報に接し、深い悲しみに暮れています。

先生と初めてお会いしたのは、2014年のJOASコンベンションでした。パッツィーさんのご紹介で「鎧玉」の講習通訳を任されたのですが、当時の私には難易度が高く、結局先生から直接ご指導いただくことになりました。大変恐縮しつつも、私にとって一生の宝物となる光栄な経験でした。

2019年には、国際交流基金（）のご支援により、ポートランドで開催されたPCOCにスペシャルゲストとして先生をお迎えすることができました。イベントは大盛況で終わり、「バラの街」に「カワサキローズ」の生みの親をお招きしたのは最適だったと思います。数学教授を退職された直後の先生は、世界中から集まった愛好家との交流を心から楽しまれているご様子でした。

今年1月、九州で6年半ぶりの再会を果たした際も、先生は本当にお元気そうで、退職後の「折り紙三昧」の生活を満喫されていました。2025年だけで100以上の新作を生み出されたと伺い、その尽きることのない情熱に深く感銘を受けたばかりです。

これからも長く現役でいらっしゃると信じて疑わず、また共に折る日を楽しみにしておりました。突然のお別れはあまりに惜しまれます。先生が遺された偉大な功績に敬意を表し、心よりご冥福をお祈り申し上げます。

Pictured: 3-Minute Kawasaki Rose, folded by me, photographed by for the PCOC 2019 promo. More photos in the story.

Artist Feature: ✨

It was pleasure getting to know this talented artist from Chicago, Katy Higgins, at Sacramento PCOC 2025 ☺️ Katy captures an essence of whimsy in a tiny terrarium. This pendant necklace (in the first 3 photos) features a LaFosse butterfly🦋 and glow-in-the-dark polymer clay mushrooms🍄‍🟫 in a tiny terrarium✨ All of the origami models that she uses in her creations are fully credited and with their designers’ permissions. She sells her creations at in NM, origami conventions etc., and on commissions.

I love that Katy and I exchanged blue and yellow butterflies (her terrarium pendant necklace and the glass sun catcher that I made in ’s studio in 4th pic), coincidentally!

Katy and I wore origami flower crowns that she made for the PCOC 2025 banquet. See the pic in the Story.

Origami and flowers always bring me joy 🧡 I can double my joy when I combine them 🧡💚🩵💜 I’m still pondering what kind of origami to add to my marigold wreath🤔

Tote bag designed by Mr. Makoto Yamaguchi.

#折り紙　 #マリーゴールド　 #花