Sadako Sasaki Inspired Peace by Folding 1,000 Paper Cranes

Sadako Sasaki was just two years old when the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima, Japan in 1945. At the age of 11, she was diagnosed with Leukemia, or the "Atomic Bomb Disease." In 1955 leukemia was a death sentence.

Her courage in the face of her cancer and determination to fold 1,000 paper cranes to be granted a wish had been an inspiration to many people all over the world.

Since her death at the young age of 12, Sadako has become a symbol of Peace throughout the world. Her inspiring story is taught to school children everywhere often as they learn how to fold a peace crane.

Image of Sadako Statue by Nordique.

1. Her spirit, determination and courage in the face of adversity.
2. Her gift of creating a symbol of peace--the paper crane--for generations to follow.
3. Her lasting legacy as a child of peace.

Sadako Sasaki (January 7, 1943 - October 25, 1955) was a Japanese girl who was just two years old when the atomic bomb was dropped on August 6, 1945, in Hiroshima, Japan.

Sadako was at home when the explosion occurred, about one mile from Ground Zero. By November 1954, chicken pox had developed on her neck and behind her ears. In January 1955, purple spots had formed on her legs. Subsequently, she was diagnosed with leukemia (her mother referred to it as "an atom bomb disease"). She was hospitalized on February 21, 1955, and given, at the most, a year to live.

After her death, Sadako's friends and schoolmates published a collection of letters in order to raise funds to build a memorial to her and all of the children who had died from the effects of the atomic bomb.

Source: Sadako Sasako. Wikipedia.

This short animation by eleven-year-old Rachel Cohn who tells the story of Sadako Sasaki, a young girl who bravely battled leukemia from radiation exposure after the bombing of Hiroshima, and tried to fold 1,000 origami cranes from summerkitchenstudio.

Lee A. Makela shares a very poignant reflection in her page on Cranes for Peace. She was part of an effort by the Plymouth Church of Shaker Heights to deliver a thousand paper cranes folded as a concrete expression of their own personal or collective prayers for peace. Lee was one who volunteered to deliver the cranes to Japan at the Childrens Peace Memorial in Hiroshima.

One of the men accompanying her on the trip to bring peace cranes to Hiroshima was a retired lawyer from the Seattle area who had served in the United States Army during that same conflict.

He was serving in Europe when the use of the atomic bomb ended the Pacific conflict.

This former army member reflected at the time, he was ecstatic that the use of the bomb had brought the war to a final conclusion. He was glad that "he would not have to run the risk of being killed during what everyone assumed would be a bloody land invasion of the Japanese home islands."

After bringing the cranes to the Childrens Peace memorial and visiting the exhibits at the nearby Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum that graphically detailing the impact of that single weapon on the life of the entire city, this former army member told Lee,

• ...for the very first time, he had begun to ask himself if maybe, just maybe, had he lost his own life in exchange for the Bomb NOT being used, the sacrifice might have been a worthy one.

Image of Photography of Hiroshima after the bomb by Eliazar.

A beautifully done story of Sadako Sasaki set to John Lennon's Happy Christmas (War is Over) sung by Sarah McLauchlan.

The text is in both Spanish and English.

After her death in 1955, Sadako's friends and schoolmates published a collection of letters in order to raise funds to build a memorial to her and all of the children who had died from the effects of the atomic bomb.

In 1958, a statue of Sadako holding a golden crane was unveiled in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial, also called the Genbaku Dome.

At the foot of the statue is a plaque that reads, This is our cry. This is our prayer. Peace in the world.

Source: Wikipedia. Sadako Sasaki.

School children visit the Sadako monument in groups representing their school. Often they bring wreathes of origami cranes to leave at the monument by Dogsnark.

Peace Cranes - Wikimedia. 2005. Paper cranes prayers for peace, Hiroshima Japan. This image has been released into the public domain by its author, Fg2.

In Japan, the crane is considered to be one of the mystical or holy creatures. They believe it lives for a thousand years. There is an ancient Japanese legend promises that anyone who folds a thousand origami cranes will be granted a wish by a crane.

Folding a thousand cranes is a popular gift for special occasions like for weddings or to celebrate a newborn baby. 1,000 cranes are also popular for wishing, when people fold a thousand cranes and wish for a long life, a loving marriage or recovery from illness or injury.

Source: Thousand Cranes. Wikipedia.

Another beautiful musical tribute to Sadako.

These step by step instructions help you to fold your own origami crane. Perfect for beginners.

LisaShea.com has many more photos of origami and origami folding instructions.

A life size bronze of Sadako Sasaki, a young Japanese girl who survived the Hiroshima bombing, but later died from radiation sickness at age 12.

Children visit the park and bring origami cranes to the statue.

The Seattle Peace Park was built by Floyd Schmoe, winner of the 1988 Hiroshima Peace Prize. The park was dedicated on August 6, 1990, 45 years after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.

The statue in the park is a life-size bronze of Sadako Sasaki sculpted by Daryl Smith. Sadako is the young Japanese girl who survived the Hiroshima bombing only to die of radiation sickness and leukemia at age 12.

There has been an outpouring of support for the country of Japan following the devastating March 2011 Earthquake and Tsunami.

Students Rebuild have partnered with DoSomething.org, to provide an opportunity for students worldwide to support their Japanese peers by making paper cranes.

A virtual chain of 1000 cranes was created on Flickr with the hope that

• "Strings of one thousand paper cranes are often sent to places where tragedy has struck as a symbol of hope & healing. Sometimes groups will fold 1000 cranes for an ailing friend in hopes of speeding their recovery."

There are several ways to get involved. I've listed some of the ones that I've found below.

While the RocketMoms on Squidoo are not making paper cranes, we have made lenses,r converted lenses over, or have existing lenses (like this one) to benefit Save The Children, one of the organizations providing relief efforts.

Image of 1000 Kraniche für Japan // 1000 Cranes for Japan Project by Nina Yasmine.

Following the March 2011 Earthquake and Tsunami in Japan, people are folding cranes for fundraisers and hope for the people of Japan.

This lens was originally created on December 17, 2007 as part of the Squidoo Superhero Project, to make 5 lenses in 2 weeks about the people who have inspired me, mentored me or changed the way I look at the world. Even though it is over 3 years old, the lens is still relevant today.

As part of the "Back to the Future Purple Star Quest" I chose this lens to update. I am honored that Robin has chosen this lens to write about in the Official Squidoo blog, dubbed this lens as "a stunning example of what a Purple Star lens can be."

The lens had been on my mind, since the recent earthquake in Japan and one that I included on my other RocketMom for Japan lenses. I discovered that people around the world are folding cranes to support the people of Japan.

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