All of the excellent reviews of this book are correct, but I wanted to warn people that my copy of this book was misassembled. Pages 81-96 appeared twice and pages 97-112 were missing. If you buy the book, be sure to check all the pages before your return period expires! If you have a defective copy and the return period has expired, the US distributor (Oxford University Press) will exchange the book, but you will have to pay for shipping yourself.

Jun Maekawa has been one of the premier origami innovators of the last 30 years. His 'Devil', which graces the cover of this book, is one of the most famous and fantastic designs of what I like to call the Early Age of Super-complexity, (though intermediate). I learned the model from 'Viva! Origami!" which is only available in Japanese. The new folding method in "Genuine Origami" includes the creatures ears which were missing in the original diagrams. I lovingly call this model "Nick, the Nicotine Demon" after I used it to help some of my dorm-mates quit smoking.

All of the models in this book are constructed from single sheets of paper, mostly square, with no cutting or glue. This book is a good choice for a second origami book because it combines clear diagrams with a progression from simple to complex models, ending with the 'Devil'. Note that most of the more complex models should be folded from 10"x10" paper. The most outlandish model in here is a deer folded from a tea-bag wrapper.

This book by the president of the Japanese Origami Academic Society JOAS is essential for all studying this ancient craft. It goes from easy to exquisitely complex. The diagrams are excellent. I was able to make the models when I obtained the first version in Japanese. I do now appreciate the explanations in english. The models are traditional from an uncut square.Some of the maneuvers are unique and quite satisfying. This is one of my favorite intermediate level origami books.