Japanese teen wins $100,000 science fair prize for origami-inspired folding simulation

From Nature's Patterns to Scientific Breakthrough

Growing up on Japan's northernmost island, Hikaru Kuribayashi immersed himself in nature — where he noticed origami patterns everywhere.

"Imagine a tiny ladybug," Kuribayashi, 18, told Business Insider. "That ladybug actually uses origami patterns to fold and expand its wings."

While traversing the sprawling forests and mountains of Hokkaido prefecture, he would often observe intricate patterns in leaves, flower petals, and insect wings. Kuribayashi believed origami's influence on nature could extend beyond artistic inspiration.

"Origami and linkages have been used in many, many other fields," Kuribayashi said. "For example, some satellites in orbit use origami solar panels."

The Winning Research

In 2025, Kuribayashi combined his passion for origami and science to create a simulation program that can predict complex folding outcomes. His research earned the $100,000 top prize at the 2026 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), surpassing more than 1,700 other high school students from around the world.

"I still can't believe I took top prize because I have been dreaming about participating in ISEF since I heard of it in eighth grade," he said.

Beauty in Nature

Kuribayashi became enamored with origami after his grandmother taught him as a child, but his interest in science crystallized when he became a high school freshman. An older schoolmate who attended ISEF based his research on his passion for the violin.

"My senior analyzed the beauty of the violin, but in my case, what should I analyze? What kind of beauty am I interested in?" Kuribayashi said.

He chose the beauty of nature.

Developing the Simulation

Kuribayashi spent about six months developing the simulation program using Julia, a programming language similar to Python. Although he learned to code in middle school, he said the research was challenging. The program uses Markov Chain Monte Carlo, an algorithm that generates sample scenarios and uses them to estimate probable answers.

"I used very difficult algorithms," Kuribayashi said. "I actually participated in a lab at the University of Tokyo. The professor gave me a lot of material that university students use."

Testing the program introduced further hurdles.

"I tested this program a lot of times, but since my programming skills aren't professional, I had all these bugs I needed to fix," Kuribayashi said.

While some people now rely on AI to write code, Kuribayashi noted that the technology can still make mistakes and often requires human fact-checking. He opted to do everything himself.

Real-World Applications

"By analyzing natural origami, which is very efficient, we can take and find a new pattern," Kuribayashi said.

He explained that new patterns can be applied in engineering, such as creating solar panels that fit into compact spaces and portable emergency shelters.

"Since there are a lot of earthquakes or tsunamis in Japan, we need to make objects that fold into very tiny spaces," Kuribayashi said. "We need to bring shelters really quickly, but shelters need to be very stiff and very big. This is where origami can be used."

A Six-Figure Scholarship

Winning the George D. Yancopoulos Innovator Award at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair was a dream for Kuribayashi. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Society for Science hosted the competition, which took place in Arizona this year. Finalists were awarded more than $7 million in prize money.

"I have a lot of appreciation for my family and global teachers. They really helped me to conduct this research," Kuribayashi said. "When I got back from the US, my family and grandparents celebrated. That was really, really nice."

Kuribayashi also valued the opportunity to meet other young scientists from around the world.

"I talked with many, many finalists in ISEF," Kuribayashi said. "Local finalists have a huge passion for their research, and that was really, really fascinating. By participating in this kind of international competition, I could interact with new perspectives."

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