A Thousand Paper Cranes

Today's post is inspired by the story of Sadako.  Sadako Sasaki lived in Hiroshima, Japan, when the atomic bomb was dropped.  She was two at the time.  This exposure at such close range to the radiation from the bomb caused Sadako to develop leukemia when she was in elementary school.  She entered the hospital when she was twelve years old and her family was told she'd have less than a year to live.

One day, Sadako's friend Chizuko came to visit and folded a paper crane for her out of golden paper.  Chizuko told Sadako that, according to Japanese lore, if she were able to fold one thousand cranes, she would be granted one wish.

Sadako achieved her goal and kept folding.  Sadly, her wish was not granted, and she died in October, 1955.  In 1958, a bronze statue of Sadako was unveiled at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial.  At the foot of the statue, the following words are engraved:

"This is our cry.  This is our prayer.  Peace on Earth."

For more information on Sadako, read here.  For a very moving fictionalized version of Sadako's life, including detailed instructions on how to fold a paper crane, please read Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes, by Eleanor Coerr.  It's a lovely book.

I folded six cranes and strung them together to make a mobile, using thread to hold them and beads to make it pretty.  I used blue as it matches the accents in our kitchen (the crane chain is hung in our dining area) and because it's a colour my husband can live with (I had originally thought about using reds and pinks).  I hope you enjoy the results and are inspired to make something beautiful for your own home.

Photo by me.

Photo by me.

Photo by me.

Photo by me.

Photo by me.

Photo by me.

Photo by me.

Photo by me.

Photo by me.