People are often loathe to part with their books, even after they’ve finished reading them. Thick, hardbound editions in particular have a sense of presence that entices literature lovers to hang on to them.
Sure, maybe you’re never going to go back and leaf through that heavy tome again, but doesn’t it look stately as it sits on the shelf? It might, but it would look a lot cooler if you used the pages to make one of these amazing folded paper pieces of art.
Yuto Yamaguchi is the patient and inventive individual behind OruFun, which combines the word oru (Japanese for “to fold”) with, well fun.
https://instagram.com/p/5rqWHIJ-wt/
By precisely folding the hundreds of pages in a book, Yamaguchi creates 3-D images. For those looking to reproduce his works, he offers OruFun patterns in downloadable format through Etsy, priced at US$7.99 each. Each pattern description includes the required page size and number to complete the design.
These aren’t rudimentary shapes, either. Check out the perspective employed on this scene of a rabbit on the moon, a popular motif in Japanese folktales.
https://instagram.com/p/tBEnUOp-6c/
Then there’s this profile of a bride about to walk down the aisle, which even accounts for the transparency of her veil.
https://instagram.com/p/tg7jELJ-yD/
Sometimes, the linguistic cycle comes full circle, as Yamaguchi folds up papers covered with words to spell out new ones.
https://instagram.com/p/2Qy6CBJ-00/
Other times, though, there’s no need to explicitly state the film that’s inspiring him, like with the signature silhouette of The Little Mermaid’s Ariel.
https://instagram.com/p/s43LlOJ-_o/
▼ More ocean life
https://instagram.com/p/rCckySp-_c/
▼ Warming the heart
https://instagram.com/p/6Fb1d0J-5r/
▼ Warming the body
https://instagram.com/p/5KNCMcp-yg/
But while the combination of crafts and books might make you think Yamaguchi is a completely mellow guy with nothing but the quietest of hobbies, he’s also a huge fan of American professional wrestling, specifically the WWE variety.
https://instagram.com/p/4sp-0Bp-_z/
As a matter of fact, Yamaguchi seems to have a soft spot for American-style action in general.
https://instagram.com/p/54iMQwp-5P/
https://instagram.com/p/1emGrUp-80/
▼ Robots in disguise…as books!
https://instagram.com/p/qpTs9rJ-1Z/
https://instagram.com/p/xJENIjp-41/
https://instagram.com/p/shxmX7J-xX/
It’s especially cool that the book’s hardcover operates like a stand, eliminating the need for any framing or mounting to display the artwork.
https://instagram.com/p/zB-2lup-0S/
And while Yamaguchi clearly has a fondness for books, he’s no Luddite, as this OruFun project proves.
https://instagram.com/p/wshTqyp-1j/
▼ Just the thing for someone who likes new media as well as old
https://instagram.com/p/zUY9ffp-6s/
You can check out the rest of Yamaguchi’s work on his Etsy page here. Oh, and don’t woryy if you love the look but can’t bear the thought of folding up a book of your own (possibly making a mistake along the way), because completed OruFun books are available as well.
Related: OruFun Etsy page, Instagram/yutoyamaguchi

Forget dog-earing and bookmarks that fall, make your own easy origami bookmark instead!
British artist gives us awesome 3-D art of life-like Pokémon! 【Pics & Video】
The Japanese art of making trash containers from old papers
What if Avengers: Endgame was an ukiyo-e woodblock painting series? It’d look awesome like this
Cafe in Tokyo serves custom 2-D and 3-D latte art, and their coffee is nothing to sniff at either
Lawson convenience store at popular tourist site is one of the most unusual in Japan
McDonald’s and Gundam team up for customized anime mecha and fried chicken sandwiches[Video]
Downtown Tokyo’s meaty monster Kaibutsu ramen will challenge your stomach, thrill your taste buds
Mt. Fuji decorated with a 500,000-flower pink carpet is Japan’s ultimate spring view
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Hello Kitty visits SoraNews24 HQ! Traditional Mongolian wrestling starts four seconds later
Giant Chiikawa statues appear in one of Tokyo’s most confusing train stations【Photos】
Yokohama restaurant serves fried axolotl, along with giant isopod, camel, and crocodile
We try eating nothing but emergency food rations for three progressively tougher days
Let’s eat some official Evangelion emergency rations!【Taste test】
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Starbucks Japan closing only Shinkansen platform branch for popularity-triggered renovations
You can assemble a well-balanced team of Pokémon, them eat them, thanks to Japanese cake chain
Two food hacks take Japan’s convenience store fried chicken to amazing new sandwich heights
30 Pikachus want to share a Tokyo hotel room with you that has separate Grass, Water, Fire spaces
7-Eleven Japan’s new baked-in-store sweet treat is only available in three parts of the country
Man bites woman at cherry blossom park in Japan, dies shortly after
Peanuts and Coke becomes a viral hit in Japan, but is it a trend worth joining?
Japan now has a special desk for people who work at home with a pet cat[Photos]
Famous Tokyo cherry blossom spot installs view-blocking screens to fight overcrowding[Video]
Uniqlo announces new T-shirts for One Piece, Naruto and more for manga publisher’s 100th birthday
Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
Krispy Kreme releases Super Mario doughnuts in Japan for a limited time
Japanese onsen egg maker from 100-yen store Daiso needs to be on your shopping list
Studio Ghibli releases Catbus pullback keychain that runs like the anime character
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says