Coasters made of recycled origami crane paper used as ema plaques at Daishoin Temple on Miyajima Island, idea presented by workshop for disabled people
May 16, 2025
by Kohei Yaomura, Staff Writer
Coasters made of recycled paper from origami cranes donated at Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima’s Naka Ward are being used as ema plaques at Daishoin Temple on Miyajima Island in the city of Hatsukaichi. The coasters are made to mark the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing by Liberty Hatsukaichi, a workshop for people with disabilities based in the same city. Tourists write their wishes for world peace and other desires on the coasters, which are then displayed within the temple grounds.
One wish reads, “May people enjoy delicious food,” and another, “Hope world peace.” A number of round coasters 9 centimeters in diameter are hanging. Using colored pencils, visitors color the illustration of the origami crane printed on the front of the coaster and write their wishes on the back with a marker.
The workshop began selling the coasters at local souvenir shops in 2023. Part of the proceeds go to the wages of the disabled people who work there. The coasters were used during the summit meeting of the Group of Seven industrialized nations held in Hiroshima in May 2023 and attracted attention.
Jun Okamoto, 64, manager of the workshop, thought of using them to mark the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing. He contacted Daishoin Temple with the idea of using them as ema plaques. The temple, which carries out a ritual burning of origami cranes donated at the park, readily agreed. The coasters have been available at 200 yen each at the temple since Golden Week, a period of consecutive holidays.
Hatsukaichi-based Yamadaya, a manufacturer of Momiji Manju, a maple-leaf-shaped bun with bean-jam filling, also agreed to participate in the project. After the ema coasters are displayed at its main store on the island for 100 yen each, they will be sent to Daishoin Temple.
The temple will hold a ceremony to burn the ema coasters once they reach a certain number. Daiyu Yoshida, 34, the deputy chief priest of the temple, said, “I hope this will be a place where as many people as possible can send their prayers.” Mr. Okamoto also expressed his wish, saying, “I would like to send the thoughts of people around the world high into the sky.”
(Originally published on May 16, 2025)
Coasters made of recycled paper from origami cranes donated at Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima’s Naka Ward are being used as ema plaques at Daishoin Temple on Miyajima Island in the city of Hatsukaichi. The coasters are made to mark the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing by Liberty Hatsukaichi, a workshop for people with disabilities based in the same city. Tourists write their wishes for world peace and other desires on the coasters, which are then displayed within the temple grounds.
One wish reads, “May people enjoy delicious food,” and another, “Hope world peace.” A number of round coasters 9 centimeters in diameter are hanging. Using colored pencils, visitors color the illustration of the origami crane printed on the front of the coaster and write their wishes on the back with a marker.
The workshop began selling the coasters at local souvenir shops in 2023. Part of the proceeds go to the wages of the disabled people who work there. The coasters were used during the summit meeting of the Group of Seven industrialized nations held in Hiroshima in May 2023 and attracted attention.
Jun Okamoto, 64, manager of the workshop, thought of using them to mark the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing. He contacted Daishoin Temple with the idea of using them as ema plaques. The temple, which carries out a ritual burning of origami cranes donated at the park, readily agreed. The coasters have been available at 200 yen each at the temple since Golden Week, a period of consecutive holidays.
Hatsukaichi-based Yamadaya, a manufacturer of Momiji Manju, a maple-leaf-shaped bun with bean-jam filling, also agreed to participate in the project. After the ema coasters are displayed at its main store on the island for 100 yen each, they will be sent to Daishoin Temple.
The temple will hold a ceremony to burn the ema coasters once they reach a certain number. Daiyu Yoshida, 34, the deputy chief priest of the temple, said, “I hope this will be a place where as many people as possible can send their prayers.” Mr. Okamoto also expressed his wish, saying, “I would like to send the thoughts of people around the world high into the sky.”
(Originally published on May 16, 2025)
