In some cultures, particularly Japan, the art of origami is very significant. Young children learn origami and whether done simply as a pass-time or as a career, there are many people who do these activities on a daily basis. Simple origami doesn't require a whole lot of skill. As long as the person is able to read and follow basic instructions they have the skills required for origami. Thousands of people have made paper airplanes not knowing they were doing an origami project. In order to make a perfect paper airplane, it is essential to use exact folds in the paper. This is what the art of origami is about, making precise folds to create a specific object. In the early days when origami was initially discovered, it was used in Germany by kindergarten students. Although the experts can't agree on where origami originated, most of them agree that the Japanese are the ones who developed the traditional art form. This art form was passed down from generation to generation with nothing in writing. Due to all information being passed on orally, only the simplest designs were passed on. How deeply involved in origami as a hobby an individual would like to become depends totally on their interest. Origami as a hobby can be time-consuming if a person gets into the advanced forms of the art. Origami can begin as a hobby but turn into an obsession. Some people get so involved in their projects and developing their origami skills. When the first steps to making a figure are applied to other figures, resulting in a number of figures having common shapes, the common shapes are called bases. There are several established bases such as the bird, the kite, the windmill and the water-bomb to name a few. Modern origami relies heavily on these existing bases alone and in combination when designing new figures. To make a composition more interesting an artist might choose patterned paper or foil-backed paper. There are many things an artist can do to express their individuality. Serious origami artists often compete in competitions. Here is a place, a competition, where people showcase origami that expresses individuality.