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Edwin Corrie's avatar

Interesting! The masu somehow seems quite unlike the sorts of traditional Western folds we're familiar with, including the Workman's and Printer's Hats. Even the fact that it starts from a square and uses diagonals makes it feel more Japanese than Western. So if the Stomemasons' Guild uses them I wonder how far back it goes.

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David Graham Mitchell's avatar

Yes, although it does seem to be a Western European fold that has been adopted by the Japanese after cross-fertilisation. Everything I know about the Blintz Box / Masu is collected here at https://www.origamiheaven.com/historyoftheblintzbox.htm. I'm sure there's much more to learn!

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