crane bird jewelry | Connect Japan and the world through Japanese spirituality｜ Japan Cross Bridge

tiny miniature orizuru — Tiny miniature Orizuru

Orizuru is a crane bird made with Origami.

Origami is Japanese traditional paper art and kids activities.

It is said to be brought to Japan by Buddhist monks around the sixth century, however there is no evidence about this and the origin of Origami is unknown.

The oldest mention of Origami is the poem written by Ihara Saikaku in 1680.

Now “ORIGAMI” is well known in the world.

Orizuru – crane bird made with Origami paper-, is one of the famous Origami art.

In Japan, we use Orizuru in many occasions, such as prayer for health or peace, as crane birds are symbols of a long healthy life and a good fortune.

By making miniature Orizuru and putting it in jewelry, the jewelry becomes good luck charm.

Crane bird － Japanese healthy long life symbol

Crane birds are beautiful big white birds with a little bit of black color on wings and necks.

Even though we don’t get to see them often, crane birds are very familiar for many of Japanese people.

Crane birds are often used as a symbol of good luck and healthy long life.

Especially at the cerebration occasions, we see crane bird pictures and decorations.

On new year day, we use items with crane bird pictures, such as kimono, special black box for special new year food called “osechi”, new year cards called “nengajo”.

We turn on TV on a new year day, we see many CMs using crane birds fling toward Mt. Fuji.

On wedding, brides wear special wedding kimono with beautiful crane bird embroidery.

Crane birds are often be seen with Mt. Fuji on these occasions, as Mt. Fuji is also another good luck symbol.

It is funny that I have never seen actual crane birds, but they have been very familiar birds to me since I was small.

They are beautiful and my favorite birds.