"Sadako and the 1,000 Paper Cranes"

"THIS IS OUR CRY AND OUR PRAYER,

IN BUILDING PEACE IN THIS WORLD."

- Children's MOnument (Sadako's Monument) in Hiroshima, Japan

By Eleanor Coerr through her interpretation of Kokeshi, a collection of Sadako’s letters to her classmates.

     On January 7th, 1943, the most famous Atomic Bombing Victim was born...Sadako Sasaki of Hiroshima, Japan.  When the first atomic bomb descended upon Hiroshima on August 6th, 1945 during World War II; Sadako was only two years old.  After nine years of living a normal life of a strong athletic Japanese girl, Sadako collapses while preparing for a big race at school at age 11 in 1955.  After receiving a medical examination Sadako discovers and is contracted with the "atom bomb disease", Leukemia.  After hearing of an old Japanese legend from one of her most trusted friends, Sadako attempts to make 1,000 paper cranes so the gods will grant her the wish to get better and be healed from her fatal disease so she can continue to do the thing she loved most, run.  After completing over 1,000 paper cranes Sadako makes the realization that no one left the hospital wards where she was located without dying and changes her wish...for the world to live in peace so there would be "no Hiroshimas, no Nagasakis, no more wars".  Later, Sadako dies of residual radiation from the Hiroshima atomic bombing on October 25th, 1955 at the tender age of twelve.  However, even after finishing 1,000 paper cranes she didn't give up and she inspires many bombing victims and people around the world looking for hope.  So, even though she died the gods granted her two wishes because, even through death, she reminds people of the ramifications of nuclear warfare and continues running through the minds of young readers and hopeful people all over the world. 

     In 1958 a statue of Sadako was uncovered to the public in Hiroshima Peace Park. Every year, thousands of people from all over the world send crane chains to be placed upon her statue on November 17th, World Peace Day.

Sadako Sasaki Monument in Hiroshima, Japan. (The figure on the top is Sadako reaching for a crane)

Sadako Poem - http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Studios/4325/sadako.html

Instructions on how to make your own paper cranes - http://www.geocities.com/bron.evans/instructions.html

Sadako (front and center) on October 4th, 1954 on Grand Field Day with her Running Team

Keep on running Sadako!

Layouts "n" More 

iSadako Story

Sundance Children's Theatre: A Thousand Cranes