Sadako’s origami crane donated to Hiroshima school on anniversary of her death
Oct. 30, 2013
by Michiko Tanaka, Staff Writer
An origami crane folded by Sadako Sasaki was donated to Noboricho Elementary School in downtown Hiroshima on October 25, the anniversary of her death. Sadako died of leukemia at the age of 12, a result of her exposure to the A-bomb’s radiation, and this led to the creation of the Children’s Peace Monument in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. Masahiro Sasaki, 72, her elder brother, hopes that the origami crane will give students opportunities to ponder peace.
Sadako Legacy, a Tokyo-based non-profit organization for which Mr. Sasaki serves as president, held a ceremony at the Rest House in the park on October 25. The one-centimeter cellophane crane, which Sadako folded on her sick bed hoping to regain her health, was placed in a small box and given to Teruyuki Segawa, 57, the principal of the school, where Sadako was once enrolled.
Sadako experienced the atomic bombing at the age of two at her home in the Kusunoki district, about 1.7 kilometers from the hypocenter. While fleeing the area, she was exposed to the “black rain” which fell in the aftermath of the bombing and contained radioactive substances. Sadako was hospitalized shortly before finishing elementary school and died eight months later.
The crane will be exhibited at Noboricho Elementary School and lent to other elementary schools and junior high schools. Mr. Segawa hopes that an actual crane folded by Sadako will encourage students to grasp her feelings.
(Originally published on October 26, 2013）
An origami crane folded by Sadako Sasaki was donated to Noboricho Elementary School in downtown Hiroshima on October 25, the anniversary of her death. Sadako died of leukemia at the age of 12, a result of her exposure to the A-bomb’s radiation, and this led to the creation of the Children’s Peace Monument in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. Masahiro Sasaki, 72, her elder brother, hopes that the origami crane will give students opportunities to ponder peace.
Sadako Legacy, a Tokyo-based non-profit organization for which Mr. Sasaki serves as president, held a ceremony at the Rest House in the park on October 25. The one-centimeter cellophane crane, which Sadako folded on her sick bed hoping to regain her health, was placed in a small box and given to Teruyuki Segawa, 57, the principal of the school, where Sadako was once enrolled.
Sadako experienced the atomic bombing at the age of two at her home in the Kusunoki district, about 1.7 kilometers from the hypocenter. While fleeing the area, she was exposed to the “black rain” which fell in the aftermath of the bombing and contained radioactive substances. Sadako was hospitalized shortly before finishing elementary school and died eight months later.
The crane will be exhibited at Noboricho Elementary School and lent to other elementary schools and junior high schools. Mr. Segawa hopes that an actual crane folded by Sadako will encourage students to grasp her feelings.
(Originally published on October 26, 2013）
