We all know Mexico celebrates Cinco do Mayo on Sunday, but did you know on the same day Japan is celebrating Boy’s day? (/ childrens day).
When I lived in Japan I loved seeing all the wind sock carps flying high above peoples’ homes. Each carp signifies a boy in the family (don’t worry, girls get their own day in March). My picture above really doesn’t do it justice. The flying koinobori is a beautiful sight. I’m feeling a little ‘homesick’ for Japan (and it’s been 8 years since I’ve lived there) so in memory, I made a little mini koinobori to celebrate.
These aren’t for hanging high above your home, but you can certainly wave them around and watch the pretty colours fly!
This DIY is very kid friendly. If you have a son or two (heck girls too!), why not celebrate Boy’s day with them and make some? Here’s what you need:
You also need a bit of white paper and black marker to make the eyes.
String or yarn can be used instead of twine.
If you do plan to wave these around like a mad man/boy, I suggest using hot glue gun for steps 8 and 9.
Steps
1 In 3-4 colours, cut out several circles of tissue paper, approx 1.5 inches in diameter, then cut those in half to make semi circles. Place a piece of double sided tape around the bottom of your roll. Start placing the straight edge of each semi circle on the double sided tape, overlapping slightly so no roll shows underneath. Ensure the curved end of the semi circle hangs off the roll so it isn’t attached. This end will be the fish’s tail. Complete all the way around.
2 Leave a 5cm gap and place another strip of double sided tape around the roll, repeating with the semi circles. The colour order doesn’t matter much, just do what you think looks good. You will have to overlap a fair bit and not all the ends will be taped down. Leave them. The next layer should cover them.
3 Repeat all the way to the top, making sure you finish with the tape and half circles around the top of the roll. This is the head. At this point, if there are any half circles that are still sticking up, use double sided tape to stick them down.
4 Cut out a circle with white paper (approx. 1 inch in diameter) then use a black marker to draw a large circle inside for the eye. Use double sided tape to stick onto the side of the head.
5 Cut strips of tissue paper using the same colours as your semi circles. At the tail end, carefully place a piece of double sided tape around the inside bottom of the roll. One by one, stick a long piece of tissue paper to the tape, going all the way around until it’s covered.
6 Trim any ends if necessary so they’re about the same length. Repeat steps 1-6 to make two more carp.
7 Cut three pieces of twine about 7 inches long. Double knot each one onto your dowel, making sure the ends are even.
8 On the head side, place a piece of double sided tape inside the roll, opposite the eye. Start with the top knotted twine on the dowel and secure the loose ends onto the tape inside the roll. If you plan to swing this koinobori around, use hot glue instead, or place another piece of tape on top the twine.
9 Repeat on the opposite side, just behind the eye. Repeat for the next two carp.
The traditional koinobori colours are black, red, blue, green and sometimes purple or orange. Black is for the father, red for the eldest and so forth. But call me a non-traditionalist. I loved making these in all sorts of fun colours!
How many carp would you have flying on your koinobori?
Enjoy waving your koinobori, and happy boy’s day!
Tan, this is adorable! One of my favorite DIY’s of yours, ever. Love the color combos you chose, and the motion photo is so fun!
Aww so sweet thank you!
Cute and so easy!
So beautiful! Two would be flying. 😉
This is so cute!
These are so great Tan! Very clever and cute.
This is SUCH a lovely and original idea. They look so beautiful hanging up!
What a cute idea!! so glad I found it before Sunday! Would it be ok if I post a photo and link onto my blog this weekend??
Tan, these are so beautiful!! They’d be such a fun project to do with my kids, even though they’re girls. You are really so very talented, my dear.
Very very beautiful! I share your post on my blog http://www.primaryimportance.blospot.com
Such a great idea. I didn’t know about this custom, thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much for all your kind words! xo
these are fantastic! I think we are going to give it a go . . .
Lovely, lovely, lovely! I’d love to fill a window with these beauties,even though we don’t celebrate Boys day in Sweden.
The minute this caught my eye on Pinterest I loved it! Such a beautiful and creative project. My son would love these and I want them to hang in my craft room.
I had no clue about this Japanese celebration, but it sounds fun! and I love these flying carps, I bet the kids would, too…
Those look so cool!!! Love it!
They’re SO cute! I want a million of them!
I love your koinobori craft! I will have to try it with my kids next year.
Really adorable! I have a few sizes of the real thing hanging over my boy’s beds and just realized how appropriate is it for their room, on account of their being boys that is! Would love it if you’d drop by my international linky party (on Sundays) and share some of your craftiness, always looking for talented contributors like you!
Love these, they are wonderful way to reuse toilet rolls. Thank you for sharing this fun and creative tutorial. Can’t wait to try myself 🙂
Nice ! I’ll try it someday with my nephew, I’m sure he’ll love it. Thanks for sharing.
tan, i LOVE these! so cool you lived in japan… my sis lived there for a year and one of my best friends did too so i got to double visit one year! love the koinbori, my parents have some flying out on a stick on their patio, and these are an especially cute version. totally want to try making these!
^__^
To answer your question: Only one, the black one. My family (relatives not included) has four people but my father is the only man XD
super
I love your post but just like a comment in Mexico we never celebrate cinco de Mayo, just America celebrate, we celebrate Independence Day 16th September
Really!? Good to know!!
I used this craft as an activity for my homeschool group, and the kids LOVED it! 🙂
Ahhh that makes me so happy to hear!
I was very happy to see this project. I lived in Japan for 3 very short years and completely fell in love with the country, people, and traditions. I would have lived there forever and would love to go back someday. Thank you so much for posting this idea. I will be making these with my second graders next week.
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They are so beautiful! What creativity you have! I can’t wait to try this craft with my 3 year old son. ^_^ I was wondering what size dowel should I use? (1/8″, 1/4″…?)
1/4″ works well. You don’t want toothpick thin as it’ll break, and you don’t want it so big it’s uncomfortable for little hands to hold.
This is lovely and I would love to do it with my children. I have four girls, though, so we are wondering what we could do for girls day in Japan and what day is it celebrated in March?
Don’t worry you can still do it with your girls! But celebrating girl’s day would be fun too! It’s March 3rd. From my memory families have little ‘shrines’ with emperor looking dolls. In Japanese it’s Hinamatsuri, which literally translates to princess festival. Here’s a write up from wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinamatsuri
It could be fun to get out some red cloth and have your girls make little dolls or set up their favourites in a similar fashion!
Awesome project – quick, easy and fun. I’d love for you to link it up at our party – The Creative Challenge. This month we are featuring projects made from toilet paper rolls. Hope to see you there. Best Wishes, Darlene
Love these carp! You have totally made me homesick for Japan. We lived there for nine years and miss it so much. Thanks for linking up at the Creative Craft Challenge.
~Bonnie
Wow 9 years! I could only stay for one but wanted to live there longer.
You know I have seen these but had no idea the meaning! thanks for sharing this great craft idea! Easy to follow tute and such a fun koinoboroi to wave around in the end! I too would love all the colors 🙂 Thanks for sharing with the Creative Challenge! I hope you stop by this week as this post will be featured! 🙂
I’m glad I could solve the mystery for you! 😉
Hi! I’m visiting via the Craft Challenge party and just had to stop by to tell you how much I loved your Koinobori!! They are just darling–such a wonderfully creative idea. Thanks for sharing–
It’s very interesting to try. Especially for my kindergarten student. Thank you for sharing it.
your very welcome!
I’m the Editor of Fun Family Crafts and wanted to let you know that we have featured your koinobori project! You can see it here:
https://funfamilycrafts.com/mini-koinobori-japanese-flying-carp/
If you have other kid-friendly craft tutorials, we’d love for you to submit them. Thanks for a great project idea!
Hi Tan,
This is such a sweet craft idea! My kids are obsessed with “koinobori” so they would love to make these together. I’m going to give them a try. Thanks for the inspiration.
Great! I love to see what people create so if you’re on Instagram make sure you tag me!
Hey 🙂
If my lovely doggy counts as a kid (and he does for us) we would have 3 of them 🙂 He is a boy so he gets his own. Thanky so much for this great idea!
Best wishes from Germany
Aww too sweet!
Cute and so easy!
Great! I love to see what people create so if you’re on Instagram make sure you tag me
The traditional koinobori colours are black, red, blue, green and sometimes purple or orange. Black is for the father, red for the eldest and so forth. But call me a non-traditionalist. I loved making these in all sorts of fun colours!
This is lovely and I would love to do it with my children. I have four girls, though, so we are wondering what we could do for girls day in Japan and what day is it celebrated in March?
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