A few days ago, a Japanese engineer set a world flight record for a paper plane with his creation staying airborne for 26.1 seconds. Takuo Toda, who is president of the Japan origami aeroplane association, stayed true to the traditions of origami by creating the plane by hand from a single sheet of paper without the help of scissors or glue.

Toda actually narrowly failed to match his lifetime best of 27.9 seconds, a Guinness world record set in Hiroshima earlier, but this was achieved with a plane that was held together with cellophane tape.

Read more on The Guardian

Technorati Tags: Japan, origami, paper plane, Japan origami aeroplane association, Takuo Toda, world flight record, world record

Thomas Hillier created a stylish and detailed papercraft artwork for his thesis project, inspired by the woodblock prints of the famous Edo-period Japanese artist Hiroshige.

The Emperor’s Castle originates from a mythical and ancient tale hidden within a woodblock landscape scene created by Japanese Ukiyo-e printmaker, Ando Hiroshige.

Thomas’s project is explained with a series of photos that explain the details.

Read more on the Emperor’s Castle Flickr set

Via Neatorama

Technorati Tags: Ando Hiroshige, art, crafts, design, Emperor’s Castle, papercraft, Japanese Ukiyo-e printmaker, Thomas Hillier

Origami as just as hobby? You’d be surprised by the talents and acumen of a Dr. Robert Lang, who after practising the art since childhood, went on to use origami principles in the development of his scientific research, such as in creating an oversized space telescope.

Though he is one to look up to, it’s true to say he is no ordinary man. Between his efforts to earn a PhD in applied physics, his job at NASA’s Jet Propulsion laboratory, his eighty technical papers, and his forty-six patents in optoelectronics and lasers, he somehow found time to implement and evolve a number of original origami designs.

Continue reading at The Origami Resolution

Visit Lang Origami

Technorati Tags: crafts, Dr. Robert Lang, Japan, origami

These are the superb watermelon carvings by Hotel chef Takashi Itoh from Tokyo. He began carving melons in 2001 after being inspired while on holiday in Thailand. It usually takes him one hour to carve, though simpler designs can take only twenty minutes.

Via The Telegraph

Thanks Lilian!

Technorati Tags: Takashi Itoh, watermelon carvings, watermelon sculptures

Someone in China (not Japan?) customised this Gundam robot with jewels and it looks good, if a little feminine (nothing wrong with that!). I suspect the decoration came from all the phone decals that are common in Hong Kong and Japan, and probably China too.

You can see more photos of the Pink Gundam here

Seen on TokyoMango

Technorati Tags: China, crafts, customised cars, customised robot models, Gundam, ideas, Japan, phone decals

Ashley Buerkett’s Mario World Board Game is meant to be built yourself, but as a paper city designed as board game, it takes a different angle on the Italian plumber. It comes complete with a plexi-glass container along with full DIY instructions.

See more on Ashley’s website

Via The Awesomer

Technorati Tags: Ashley Buerkett, Mario, Mario World Board Game, paper city

One of the latest by the previously posted Mu Pan. Its an origamu paper sculpture of a Japanese Army bike!

More on Mu Pan’s Flickr account

Technorati Tags: Japanese, Japanese Army bike, Mu Pan, origamu, paper sculptures

Dong Trieu ceramics and pottery village is a place that sells all kinds of ceramics, embroidery and marble statues. It makes for a fantastic visit to get an insight into the handcrafted process that Vietnamese craftspeople put into creating these works.

Read more on MangoVine.net

Technorati Tags: ceramics, crafts, Dong Trieu ceramics and pottery village, pottery, tourism, Vietnam

Previously posted Origamu creator Mu Pan took part in Scion Space’s Giant Robot curated recent Papershapers show. His work looks even better when presented in the exhibition!

Brookyn-based Mu Pan took the theme of historical and mythological characters from his paintings and had them take over the Scion Space.

Check out Mu Pan’s Flickr site for more photos

Check out Mu Pan’s website

Via NotCot

Technorati Tags: arts, Asian American, crafts, Giant Robot, illustration, Mu Pan, Origamu, Papershapers, Scion Space

Time for some Chinese stamps! Not the lickable ones, or indeed the marble ones with your chop carved into it, but some crafty ones of Chinese architecture.

This set by Itis Edition allows you to print your own elements of Chinese traditional architecture such as the “ridge of a roof, lintel of door and ridge animal“.

Looks like its currently sold out, but keep checking on the Itis website.

Via Pop Wuping

Technorati Tags: China, Chinese Architecture Stamps, crafts, Itis Edition, printing stamps, Chinese architecture