University students use paper cranes to make leis, promote peace
Nov. 2, 2012
An effort by students at Hiroshima University of Economics called “Expand Peace through Paper Cranes Project” is seeking to spread the spirit of peace by making use of folded paper cranes.
Currently, six students are involved in the group activity. They take paper cranes offered to the Children’s Peace Monument in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and turn these into leis. In August 2012, they gave paper crane leis to soccer players from Ghana, the United States, Germany, and China who were playing in group matches for the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup at the Hiroshima Big Arch.
When they handed the leis to the players, they also offered some information in English about Sadako Sasaki, a girl now well known for folding paper cranes in the hospital at the age of 12, hoping to recover from leukemia. Sadako was exposed to the atomic bombing at the age of two and ten years later developed the A-bomb-induced illness, which led to her death.
“I was happy to see the players of the winning American team wearing the leis around their necks at the award ceremony,” said Hideki Suemasu, 21, the leader of the group.
The group was formed in August 2011 when the students took part in an event which involved a paper crane artist from the Netherlands, Manna Ori. For this event, 2011 paper cranes, each 50 centimeters square, were used to ring the old Hiroshima Municipal Stadium to inspire thoughts of peace.
The work by the university students brings together the thoughts of those who made the paper cranes, those who created the leis, and those who received the leis. The members of the group are eager to widen the scope of their activity by teaching how to make leis at various locations and joining forces with other groups. (Junichi Akiyama, 16, and Mako Sakamoto, 16)
(Originally Published on October 29, 2012)
Currently, six students are involved in the group activity. They take paper cranes offered to the Children’s Peace Monument in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and turn these into leis. In August 2012, they gave paper crane leis to soccer players from Ghana, the United States, Germany, and China who were playing in group matches for the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup at the Hiroshima Big Arch.
When they handed the leis to the players, they also offered some information in English about Sadako Sasaki, a girl now well known for folding paper cranes in the hospital at the age of 12, hoping to recover from leukemia. Sadako was exposed to the atomic bombing at the age of two and ten years later developed the A-bomb-induced illness, which led to her death.
“I was happy to see the players of the winning American team wearing the leis around their necks at the award ceremony,” said Hideki Suemasu, 21, the leader of the group.
The group was formed in August 2011 when the students took part in an event which involved a paper crane artist from the Netherlands, Manna Ori. For this event, 2011 paper cranes, each 50 centimeters square, were used to ring the old Hiroshima Municipal Stadium to inspire thoughts of peace.
The work by the university students brings together the thoughts of those who made the paper cranes, those who created the leis, and those who received the leis. The members of the group are eager to widen the scope of their activity by teaching how to make leis at various locations and joining forces with other groups. (Junichi Akiyama, 16, and Mako Sakamoto, 16)
(Originally Published on October 29, 2012)
