A Thousand Cranes is based on the Japanese legend that promises that anyone who folds a thousand origami cranes will be granted a wish by the gods.  The crane in Japan is one of the mystical creatures and is said to live for a thousand years.  This show uses that story as its inspiration.  The familiar theme of Sakura Sakura, the use of different traditional pentatonic scales, and ethnic drums give this show a very interesting sound scape.