You Have to Squeeze, Drop, and Tap These Handmade Paper Toys for Fun Surprises

Paper Toys by Haruki Nakamura

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Japanese designer Haruki Nakamura brings his artwork to life through the time-honored tradition of paper crafting. Using his masterful understanding of paper engineering, he constructs whimsical creatures and dolls that move in surprising ways. By the simple act of tipping, poking, or dropping them on a table, they reveal their true selves. Sometimes, they become something brand new, expose several more legs, or retreat to the comfort of their protective shells. You don't know how they'll react until you play with them, which is all part of the fun.

Nakamura is a self-taught paper crafter whose primary goal is to entertain people with his work. He has been doing so since 2000, just a few years after he first picked up a book called Paper Craft Techniques Encyclopedia. He used that text to hone his skills, but he really began pursuing the field in earnest after he saw the joy that his paper toys brought people. Nakamura continues to keep this in mind when he builds his recent creations, coupling the engineering with witty character design to add an even more playful edge to his work.

In keeping with his desire to make others happy, Nakamura sells his paper engineering as kits on his website. Unfortunately, the designer only sells in Japan, but there is hope for those abroad—his popular Penguin Bomb toy is available on Amazon.

Japanese designer Haruki Nakamura creates engaging paper toys that move in delightfully unexpected ways.

Paper Toys by Haruki Nakamura

Paper Toys by Haruki Nakamura

Paper Toys by Haruki Nakamura

You can watch more of Nakamura's papercraft portfolio in action via his YouTube channel.

Haruki Nakamura: Website | YouTube
h/t: [Colossal]

All images via Haruki Nakamura.

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Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met, Manager of My Modern Met Store, and co-host of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. As an illustrator and writer living in Seattle, she chronicles illustration, embroidery, and beyond through her blog Brown Paper Bag and Instagram @brwnpaperbag. She wrote a book about embroidery artist Sarah K. Benning titled "Embroidered Life" that was published by Chronicle Books in 2019. Sara is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art. She earned her BFA in Illustration in 2008 and MFA in Illustration Practice in 2013.
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