Do you know the story of the girl who made 1000 cranes to make a wish that might save her life? Sadako was only two years old when the atomic bomb dropped in Hiroshima, and just ten years later she was diagnosed with Leukemia. Throughout her life she had heard stories related to the paper crane; specifically the part regarding a wish granted to the folder after 1000 cranes.

1644 cranes later, Sadako passed away. Listen to Michiko Yamane, a guide in Hiroshima and a friend to Sadako’s father, to hear her story.

Art Project

I want to fold 1000 paper cranes while I am in Japan. After visiting Kyoto grades 9 and 10 of TGS were assigned a “cultural craft” project, and weeks before it was assigned I began researching origami. I wrote a paper about the history (Global Studies) and made a How to Fold a Paper Crane blog with gifs (English). You may have seen it posted a few weeks ago.

In the time of I was not researching or writing for those aspects of the project I was folding. My mind was set on folding 1000 paper cranes.

I folded at school. After school. In the early morning. Late at night. During study hall. During class. Basically any time my hands were free.

In my art project there are 300 cranes. I was disappointed I only reached this many; especially when I look at the stack of untouched origami paper. So, I guess you can say I either misjudged how fast I can fold cranes or how much free time I have.

Either way, that untouched origami paper will be folded and turned into a pile of origami cranes before mid-June.

TGS, grades 9 and 10, projects can be found here.

Specifically my project can be found here.

After folding 1000 cranes, I will take them to the Children’s Memorial in the Peace Park in remembrance of the children affected by the atomic bombing with a wish for a safe, and peaceful future.

If you folded 1000 cranes, what would you wish for?