How to Make an Origami Sanbo

Last Updated: June 27, 2017

A sanbo, also called a sanbow, is a traditional Japanese offering dish. The sanbo is different from most other origami boxes in the fact that it has two flaps at the top, giving it a decorative effect. It is a very simple and useful container to use for storing anything from paper clips to candy!

Steps

1
Start with a square piece of paper. If you made the square from a rectangular piece of paper, there may be a diagonal crease. If so, you can try to flatten it, but you can disregard it as it won't affect the final product.
2
Fold the paper halfway vertically and horizontally. They should both be valley folds. Crease well and unfold.

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3
Fold all of the corners to meet the middle point.
4
Fold the paper horizontally and vertically again, this time as mountain folds. Crease well and unfold.
5
Flip the paper over and rotate it so one point is facing you.
6
Grab the point on the left and right and collapse them into the center. Flatten them on top of one corner and bring the other point on top.
7
Make sure that the creases on the square are pressed down well enough. You may want to use your fingernails, a pencil, or another sturdy object to press them down.
8
Open up the two flaps atop the square and pull them outward.
9
Pull up the flaps and flatten them. They should form a rectangle. Repeat these last two steps on the other side of the paper.
10
Grab the top flap on the right and move it over so it's on top of the other side of the paper.
11
Flip to the other side of the paper and repeat.
12
Rotate the paper, so the triangular tip is pointing up.
13
Fold each side in so it means the center crease.
14
Flip to the other side of the paper and repeat.
15
Fold down the large flap in the upper half of the paper down so its tip meets the bottom. Repeat for each side.
16
Pick up the figure and grab the flaps you folded down in the previous step. Position them so that they stick out and pull them, opening up the box. Press the creases in the inside outward so it stays open. Little items such as tiny candies can now be added to the finished sanbo.

Community Q&A

Question

Can I close the box by folding the flaps inward?

T. Chinsen

Top Answerer

At steps 13 & 14, the fold pattern supports the open flap when folded. If you close the flaps inward, there is no support to the flap and the walls of the box become undone.
Question

If I add a sticky note, or perhaps insert a small slit of paper into the outer part of the flap, can I close the box and still manage to be able to make it how it was like before I made changes to it?

T. Chinsen

Top Answerer

Adding a trifold piece to wrap around the section just made at Step 13 can provide the stable support to the wall of the box. Just make it 3x the height/width of that square section. A sticky note can work, although it will not hold up if the sticky part gets dirty.