Hiroshima 1943

Sadako Sasaki was born in the city of Hiroshima in Japan during the World War II.

HIROSHIMA

August 6, 1945

She was two years old when the atom bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, where she lived with her family.

1949-1953

Sadako was a healthy, friendly child who enjoyed going to school. She loved singing and doing sports.

1954

Ten years later she started feeling ill: the radiation had caused her leukemia.

1955

While she was in the hospital, Sadako's best

friend, Chizuko, told her the

legend of the thousand paper

cranes.  

Japanese legend

If you fold 1,000 origami cranes, you will be granted a

wish

In Asia the cranes are symbols of longevity, healing, patience, and

most of all lifelong love”

Cranes are known to mate for life, a rarity in the animal world

1955

Soon, Sadako started to fold one thousand paper cranes

so that the gods would

grant her wish and make her

well.

1956

When Sadako died, her classmates folded the three hundred fifty-six cranes that Sadako, was unable to finish.

With the support of students in more than 3,100 schools around Japan and other countries the Society was able to build this bronze statue of a girl holding up a gold-colored "folded" crane that stands nine meters high.

This is our cry.

This is our prayer.

For building peace in

the world.

The statue of Sadako in Hiroshima Peace Park

Children's Peace Monument

Every year on August 6, the city of Hiroshima holds a Peace

Ceremonial to pray for for the abolition of nuclear weapons and

for world peace.

Sadako and the thousand cranes2009

Please send your cranes to the following address:

Peace Promotion DivisionThe City of Hiroshima

1-5 Nakajima-cho Naka-ku, Hiroshima

730-0811 Japan