Hiroshima NPO translates children’s picture book featuring Sadako Sasaki into 33 languages, donates 91 copies to Hiroshima Prefectural Library
Mar. 28, 2022
by Miho Kuwajima, Staff Writer
ANT-Hiroshima, an NPO based in Hiroshima’s Naka Ward, has translated the picture book Paper Crane Journey: Carrying Sadako’s Prayer, written by Shiho Umino, into 33 languages and donated a total of 91 translated copies to the Hiroshima Prefectural Library, located in the city’s Naka Ward. The copies are anticipated to be read by children from overseas living in Hiroshima Prefecture.
With its pastel illustrations, the book depicts images of the life of Sadako Sasaki, a girl who experienced the atomic bombing at the age of two and died of leukemia 10 years later, and how her classmates came together after her death, built the Children’s Peace Monument in Hiroshima, and spread a circle of peace to the world. The translated texts in foreign languages such as Vietnamese have been pasted onto the pages of the Japanese books. The prefectural library is scheduled to begin lending out the donated books from its local collection section starting in April.
Tomoko Watanabe, 68, the group’s executive director, said, “Children with foreign nationalities tend to feel isolated when they live in Japan. I hope this provides them with the opportunity to read the picture book and turn their attention to a different world.” ANT-Hiroshima began translating the book into multiple languages about 20 years ago and delivering the publication to conflict-torn regions overseas.
(Originally published on March 28, 2022)
ANT-Hiroshima, an NPO based in Hiroshima’s Naka Ward, has translated the picture book Paper Crane Journey: Carrying Sadako’s Prayer, written by Shiho Umino, into 33 languages and donated a total of 91 translated copies to the Hiroshima Prefectural Library, located in the city’s Naka Ward. The copies are anticipated to be read by children from overseas living in Hiroshima Prefecture.
With its pastel illustrations, the book depicts images of the life of Sadako Sasaki, a girl who experienced the atomic bombing at the age of two and died of leukemia 10 years later, and how her classmates came together after her death, built the Children’s Peace Monument in Hiroshima, and spread a circle of peace to the world. The translated texts in foreign languages such as Vietnamese have been pasted onto the pages of the Japanese books. The prefectural library is scheduled to begin lending out the donated books from its local collection section starting in April.
Tomoko Watanabe, 68, the group’s executive director, said, “Children with foreign nationalities tend to feel isolated when they live in Japan. I hope this provides them with the opportunity to read the picture book and turn their attention to a different world.” ANT-Hiroshima began translating the book into multiple languages about 20 years ago and delivering the publication to conflict-torn regions overseas.
(Originally published on March 28, 2022)
