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The Peace Crane
The Sadako Story
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Every year thousands of people around the world fold paper cranes as an expression of hope for a world at peace, where non-violent means are used to resolve conflicts, and where people can live without fear. For most of these people, the origin of the paper crane as a symbol of peace
probably lies with the story of a young Japanese girl, Sadako Sasaki, who
was born in 1943. Sadako was two years old when the atom bomb was dropped
in Hiroshima. As she grew up, Sadako was strong, courageous, and athletic.
At age 11, she was diagnosed with leukemia, "the atom bomb" disease. During
her treatment, she hoped for good health and began to fold a thousand paper
cranes (senbazuru) in line with a Japanese tradition that said that anyone
who folds a thousand paper cranes would be granted a wish. Although Sadako
completed only 644 before her death at age twelve, her fellow students folded
the remainder of the thousand cranes, which were buried with her. Inspired by her courage and strength, Sadako's friends and young people all over Japan helped collect money for a memorial to all of the children killed by the atom bomb. In 1958, a statue of Sadako holding a golden crane was unveiled in Hiroshima Peace Park. The children's wish is inscribed at the bottom of the statue and reads: |
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Folding a paper crane is like making peace -- some
of the steps are awkward. Back to The Peace Crane |
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