In July 2025, at the press day of the Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival, Taro Yaguchi, owner of Taro’s Origami Studio, presented a giant origami performance.

This festival is a spectacular celebration where nature, horticulture, and art come together, attracting thousands of visitors to its historic gardens. The press day, in particular, is a valuable opportunity for media representatives and industry professionals to gather, connect, and discover exhibitors’ work.

At this performance, in front of a hummingbird-themed garden, Yaguchi folded a giant origami hummingbird right before the press and audience. As the large suspended paper gradually transformed with each fold, the figure of a hummingbird seemed to come alive in the space, eliciting amazement and admiration from those watching.



Collaboration with Garden Ambassador Nicola Davies

The performance was a collaboration with Nicola Davies, Garden Ambassador for the event.

Nicola is a renowned zoologist, science writer, and author, known for her appearances on BBC’s The Really Wild Show. She has published numerous children’s science books, including Hummingbird, which beautifully portrays the life of these remarkable birds and is beloved by readers worldwide.

During the performance, as Nicola spoke about the beauty of hummingbirds and their astonishing migratory journeys, Yaguchi simultaneously brought a hummingbird to life through origami. The intersection of words and form created a unique fusion of science and art—a moment that could truly be called “live science & art.”

Reflections

Folding origami in the gardens of a historic British palace, surrounded by flowers, was an extraordinary and luxurious experience. I am truly grateful to have shared the beauty of origami with so many people at an event where nature, art, and science harmoniously came together.

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