Hi, I’m Risa!

I grew up in Japan and moved to the US in 2012. I’ve now called Palo Alto home for 14 years, and I’ve been volunteering in our school district for several years.
 

My connection to origami started with my son. We folded together all through his preschool and elementary school years, and he’s now a freshman at Gunn High School.
 

A few years ago, while volunteering in a middle school library, the students and I folded 1,000 paper cranes together to wish the teachers good luck. Even after we hit 1,000, the kids kept folding — before long, the whole room was covered in colorful cranes.
 

That’s when it really hit me: origami isn’t just about making something with your hands. It’s about what you feel while you fold — a wish for someone, a quiet moment of focus, a little bit of your heart tucked into each crease. I’m so excited to share that experience with your students, one fold at a time!

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Hobbies:
I like to work out and like to watch NBA, I’m a huge Warriors fan!

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