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Akira Yoshizawa

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Artist

The Resume

    (March 14, 1911-March 14, 2005)
    Born in Kaminokawa, Japan
    Origami artist
    Created over 50,000 origami models
    Pioneered the wet folding technique
    Named to the Order of the Rising Sun by Emperor Hirohito (1983)

Why he might be annoying:

    After he quit a factory job to become an artist, he supported himself by selling fish products door to door.
    His first commercial success was a series of origami models of the symbols of the Japanese zodiac (1951).
    After that, he finally got in touch with an American admirer of his work who had been sending him letters, since he previously had been unable to afford postage stamps.
    He was so moved over how realistic his model of a rice plant was that he cried over it.

Why he might not be annoying:

    While working as a factory draftsman, he used origami to teach geometry to junior employees.
    While serving in the army medical corps during WWII, he made origami models to cheer up sick patients.
    His wet folding technique resulted in finished models with a rounder, sculpted look.
    He developed a notation system to make origami instructions easier to follow.
    His origami models were exhibited at the Louvre (1998).
    The New York Times wrote, 'In his hands, flat sheets of paper sprang to life as the birds of the air, the fish of the sea, and the flora and fauna of the earth.'

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 5 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 17 Votes: 58.82% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 6 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 8 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 7 Votes: 71.43% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 8 Votes: 62.50% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 12 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 16 Votes: 68.75% Annoying