Origami Ryujin 35 Tutorial Upd May 2026

One star removed for the lack of shaping instructions and high entry barrier. But as a technical achievement, it’s a 5/5. If you’re ready to suffer beautifully, go for it. If not, try Kamiya’s Phoenix 3.5 or Wizard first.

The Ryujin 3.5, designed by Satoshi Kamiya, is widely considered one of the most complex origami models in existence. Folding it requires mastery of specific "lessons" rather than following a standard step-by-step diagram. 1. Essential Preparations

Paper Selection: Use a square of at least 1.5 meters per side. Recommended papers include Craft paper (approx. 20 gsm), Tissue foil, or Tissue paper treated with Methyl Cellulose (MC) glue.

Grid Preparation: You must pre-crease a massive grid—typically 96x96—before starting any specific features.

Key Tools: Have a mechanical pencil or toothpick for precise small creases, clips to hold thick layers, and heavy objects to keep the large sheet flat during pre-creasing. 2. Core Folding Modules

The model is broken down into distinct sections that should be practiced individually on smaller test sheets before the final fold.

You're looking for a tutorial on how to make an Origami Ryujin 3.5! That's a fascinating model.

Once upon a time, in a small village nestled between two great mountains, there lived a young apprentice named Kaito. Kaito was determined to master the ancient art of origami, and his sensei, Master Tanaka, had assigned him a challenging task: to create the magnificent Origami Ryujin 3.5.

The Ryujin, a mythical dragon from Japanese folklore, was said to possess incredible power and wisdom. Its origami form was rumored to be a true test of skill and patience. Undaunted, Kaito accepted the challenge.

As he began to fold the paper, Kaito realized that the design was more intricate than he had anticipated. The model required 35 distinct steps, each one demanding precision and attention to detail. Frustration began to creep in, but Kaito persevered, recalling Master Tanaka's wise words: "A true artist must be patient and persistent."

Hours turned into days, and days into weeks. Kaito encountered many obstacles, but with each failure, he learned and improved. He carefully crafted each scale, wing, and claw, pouring his heart and soul into the creation.

Finally, after weeks of dedication, Kaito's Origami Ryujin 3.5 began to take shape. The dragon's body started to emerge, its curves and lines majestic and powerful. As Kaito completed the final folds, he stepped back to admire his masterpiece.

The Origami Ryujin 3.5 stood proudly on Kaito's workbench, its wings spread wide, and its eyes gleaming with a fiery spirit. Kaito beamed with pride, knowing that his hard work and perseverance had paid off.

Sensei Master Tanaka was overjoyed when he saw Kaito's creation, nodding in approval. "You have truly captured the essence of the Ryujin," he said. "Your patience and skill are a testament to the power of origami."

From that day on, Kaito's Origami Ryujin 3.5 became a legendary model, inspiring others to explore the art of origami. And Kaito continued to create, pushing the boundaries of what was possible with paper and imagination.

Folding Satoshi Kamiya's Ryujin 3.5 is one of the ultimate challenges in origami. Because a single tutorial can exceed 10 hours, most folders use a combination of video series and community-made guides. Essential Resources The Gold Standard Tutorial : The most comprehensive step-by-step guide is the Ryujin 3.5 Complete Tutorial Playlist

by FearlessFlourish, which breaks the model down into manageable parts like the head, legs, and scales. Reference Documents : A highly recommended written supplement is Daniel Brown's Ryujin Guide origami ryujin 35 tutorial upd

, which provides diagrams and technical advice for various Ryujin versions. PDF Instruction Guides

: Detailed technical walkthroughs covering the crease pattern (CP) and difficult sections like the neck twist can be found on Preparation Checklist

Before starting, ensure you have the right materials to avoid structural failure mid-fold: Paper Size

: A square of at least 1.5 meters (roughly 5 feet) is recommended for beginners. Advanced folders may attempt it with 1 meter. Paper Type

: Use thin, strong paper like double-tissue or sketching paper (<60gsm). : The model is based on a massive 96x96 grid. Key Folding Stages Pre-creasing

: This phase involves making thousands of initial folds for the scales and body. It is often the most time-consuming part.

: You will need to fold over 1,200 individual scales. It is best to practice these on a separate sheet first. Collapsing

: This includes the critical "head collapse" and leg assemblies. The Neck Twist

: This is widely considered the most difficult technical step of the model.

For a deep dive into the preparation and materials needed before you make your first crease:

The Ryujin 3.5, designed by Satoshi Kamiya, is widely considered one of the most complex origami models in existence. There is no single, step-by-step instruction manual; instead, folders must rely on the Crease Pattern (CP) and specialized lessons for specific sections like the scales, head, and legs. 1. Essential Preparations

Folding a Ryujin 3.5 requires extreme patience and the right materials. Beginners are strongly advised to practice individual units before attempting the full model.

Paper Choice: Use very thin, strong paper. Standard "origami paper" is insufficient. A square sheet at least 1.5 metres to a side is recommended.

Tools: Precision tools like an X-Acto knife, toothpicks, or mechanical pencils with metal points are essential for shaping the thousands of scales.

Pre-Creasing: This is the longest phase. You must establish a massive grid and precise mountain/valley folds across the entire sheet before any collapsing begins. 2. The Folding Process

The model is typically broken down into distinct complex sections: One star removed for the lack of shaping

The Scales: The body features over 2,000 scales. A popular "fast method" involves slightly poking and tucking the paper to create curves.

Legs and Feet: These require simultaneous collapsing of the sides and bottom to ensure creases connect properly.

The Head: Often the final piece, the head collapse involves intricate "open sinks" and a difficult neck twist to flip the head base right-side up.

The Tail: Once pre-creased, the tail is often wrapped and occasionally glued for structural stability. 3. Key Resources for Updates

Because there is no official diagram, most folders use video series and community guides: Ryujin 3.5 FULL HEAD COLLAPSE Tutorial [Satoshi Kamiya] #8

The Ryujin 3.5, designed by Satoshi Kamiya, is widely considered one of the most complex origami models in existence, featuring over 2,000 scales and an intricate multi-headed dragon structure. Mastering this model requires a methodical approach, starting from specialized paper preparation to high-level technical collapsing techniques. 🛠️ Phase 1: Preparation & Materials

Success with the Ryujin begins with the right paper. Using standard origami paper will likely lead to tearing or excessive bulk. Recommended Paper: Double tissue or thin sketching paper ( ) is ideal for handling the thousands of layers.

Dimensions: A minimum square of 1.2 to 1.5 meters is recommended. The Grid: You must accurately pre-crease a grid before starting any specific details. 📐 Phase 2: Pre-Creasing Hierarchy

The pre-creasing phase is the most time-consuming part of the build, often taking dozens of hours.

The Scales: You must pre-crease thousands of small "diamond" units. Many folders use a "time-lapse" method or repeat the pattern across the paper to stay consistent.

Transition Units: These critical folds transform wide pleats into smaller ones, allowing the dragon's body to taper and bend.

Diamond Stretches: These are used to create the specific structural shifts needed for the legs and heads. 🐉 Phase 3: Technical Collapsing

Once pre-creased, the model is collapsed into its 3D form. This is often done in segments:

Legs & Scales: The legs are formed by collapsing the sides and bottom of a section simultaneously. This requires precisely matching mountain and valley folds so the paper lies flat.

The Head & Tail: These areas require the highest precision, often involving "hard steps" that require clips or pins to hold the paper in place while folding. ✨ Phase 4: Shaping (The Finishing Touch)

After the base is collapsed, the scales must be shaped to give the dragon its organic look. Upd Tip: Print your crease pattern onto the

Fast Shaping Method: Use a pointy tool like an X-Acto knife, toothpick, or mechanical pencil to gently poke and tuck each scale into a curve.

Tucking: Opening each scale slightly with a finger and tucking the paper inward creates the overlapping "armored" appearance.

For a visual walkthrough of the most difficult steps—including leg collapsing and scale shaping—watch these expert guides: Ryujin 3.5 Complete Tutorial 294K views · 7 years ago YouTube · FearlessFlourish

Satoshi Kamiya’s Ryujin 3.5, considered one of the most complex origami models, requires a massive, expert-level 2-meter paper, with the folding process often taking over 100 hours. Comprehensive community-made video tutorials, such as those by FearlessFlourish, are essential guides that break down the intricate, multi-stage, 12-part folding process. For a detailed breakdown of the folding stages, visit Reddit r/origami.

While there is no single "official" video tutorial for Satoshi Kamiya's Ryujin 3.5, the community highly regards the comprehensive guides developed by Daniel Brown (often referred to as the gold standard) and recent high-quality video updates from creators like Fearless Flourish.

The Ryujin 3.5 is considered one of the most complex models in existence, typically requiring 100+ hours of work. Key Tutorials & Resources

Daniel Brown's Ryujin Guide: Widely cited as the most "heroic" resource for the model, providing detailed photodiagrams and lessons. It is often accessed through the "Ryujin Central" community hub.

Fearless Flourish (YouTube): Offers an extensive video tutorial series (reportedly around 11 hours long) that covers the collapsing and shaping process.

Satoshi Kamiya's "World of Super Complex Origami": This book contains the official Crease Pattern (CP). Most advanced folders use this as their primary reference alongside tutorials. Shaping & Specialty Tutorials:

Scale Shaping: Dedicated videos like the Fast Method for Shaping Scales demonstrate how to use tools like toothpicks or X-Acto knives to "pop" the 2,000+ scales.

Leg & Neck Transitions: Specific tutorials focus on the "torturous" transitions where the body pleats must shift to accommodate legs or the complex neck twist. Critical Review of the Folding Experience

Due to copyright, I cannot host the diagrams, but here is the legal and updated path:

The Ryujin 3.5 is built on a 96x96 grid (or 48x48 for a smaller version). Do not fold this grid line by line. Instead:

Upd Tip: Print your crease pattern onto the back of the paper using a laser printer (toner won't bleed when wet-shaping). This "low-tac" guide is the single biggest time-saver in the last 5 years.

The biggest complaint I received was that the body scales "explode" when you move to the tail. The updated tutorial introduces a temporary "scotch tape stitch" — a reversible technique using low-tack masking tape to hold the scales flat while you work on the dorsal spines.

I have created a 1-page "Dragon Roadmap" PDF. It shows exactly which fold to execute at each 10cm interval of the paper. You can now stick this to your wall instead of squinting at your phone screen with crumby fingers.

❌ Steep learning curve – Step counts exceed 200+; a single mistake early on (e.g., misaligned precreases) ruins the whole model.
❌ Incomplete tutorials online – Most free video series stop before final shaping or skip the hardest scale-sinking. The official diagrams are required for full completion.
❌ Requires huge paper – 1.5m+ square of thin, strong paper (e.g., double tissue, kraft) is necessary. Many fail using standard kami or thick foil.
❌ Time-consuming – 30–60 hours average; some steps take 2 hours to execute correctly.
❌ Lack of shaping guidance – The diagrams show final creases but give little advice on curving the body, spreading scales, or positioning the legs naturally.