When you think of Hokkaido, what animals come to mind? The 'kita-kitsune' (Ezo red fox) is surely one of the most iconic. Now, a paper cutting art of this very fox is trending on social media.
I made a fluffy kita-kitsune by cutting and folding washi paper.
I feel like I've gotten closer to my ideal fox artwork.
Source: Post by @PKirigami
The person who posted the photos is Kirigami Papa, a nursery school teacher.
This fluffy kita-kitsune, small enough to sit snugly in the palm of a hand, was created by cutting and folding washi paper. We had a chance to speak with the artist himself, who said he felt he had "gotten closer to my ideal fox artwork."
It seems you've attempted to create a fox many times before achieving this ideal kita-kitsune. How many times have you made kita-kitsune paper cutting art before?
I've loved foxes since I was a child and have made them often. This is the third time I've shared one on social media.
So you've been creating fox paper cutting art countless times!
Could you tell us about your career as a kirigami artist?
I first made kirigami about 12 years ago, when a child at the nursery school where I work requested it. At that time, I cut out the shape of a grasshopper and bent its legs, and it was so well-received for looking realistic that I got hooked. It was only recently, during the COVID-19 pandemic, that I thought about posting on social media. I decided I wanted to share more of what I was making and have people see it.
I'm surprised at how long you've been doing kirigami. It's wonderful that you're sharing your long-standing creative passion on social media!
When I started posting on social media, I decided to have a theme, so I began by creating 3D kirigami of Pokémon characters. As I posted them, my audience gradually grew, and I became even more engrossed in kirigami. Until now, Pokémon characters were my main focus, but I decided to rethink what I could create without relying on the popularity of the characters, which led me to start experimenting with animal kirigami. In that process, I discovered washi paper, which led to this latest piece.
Your fluffy animal kirigami is so adorable and heartwarming. He also created other animals related to Hokkaido, the Ezo squirrel and the chipmunk. Please take a look.
I cut and folded washi paper to create a chipmunk with puffy cheeks and an Ezo squirrel with a bushy tail.
Source: Post by @PKirigami
Kirigami Papa says he loves Hokkaido's animals. He mentioned that once his children are a bit older, he'd love to visit Hokkaido to photograph wild animals. We hope he gets to meet animals just as fluffy as his paper creations.
