orizuru

saying peace

Orizuru [Paper Crane]

You’ll find me where six rivers meet

Out resting on the Bay

You’ll find me in the temples

Where I descended on that day.

You’ll find me flat in classrooms

You’ll find me hanging, too

For heiwa* is a project

That we still keenly pursue.

You’ll find my tail wind in the halls

Where pain was put to rest

Young hands which did not tire for hope

With every crease they pressed.

You’ll find me by those famous words

Etched by one little girl

“I will write peace on your wings”, she penned,

“And you will fly all over the world.”

You’ll find me in her arms outstretched

Where pilgrims – millions – go

Moved by the hope that she long held

Transfixed by Sadako.

You’ll find I’ve disappeared one day

For me death is a goal

Indeed, my absence means for all

That peace has gained control.

But for now you’ll find me if you search

There’s so much yet to do

I’ll continue to fly all over the world

Your humble orizuru.

- Anna Parker

*Heiwa = peace

showing peace

Japanese American National Museum: Sadako Sasaki’s Crane

Watch the video here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9w5WomWiVBk

doing peace

The theme today is global peace

You can make your own paper crane using a square piece of paper. Any kind of paper is fine, even newspaper. Use this video to learn how to fold a paper crane: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXs0ckqVYwg

This activity is perfect for concentration, reflection, and finding some “quiet time” in the day. Teachers might like to establish a Paper Crane Club, in which students make cranes throughout the year then assemble them as a 1000 paper crane hanging (senbazuru), achieving Sadako’s goal.

Once you have folded your crane/s, you can send it/them to the Hiroshima Children’s Memorial, where your cranes can be submitted. It is considered unlucky to dispose of paper cranes, so rest assured that your cranes will eventually be recycled into postcards and writing paper such as this one.

You will find the address for crane submission at the bottom of this page, as well as details about registering your crane submission with a personal message, if you so wish: https://www.city.hiroshima.lg.jp/site/english/10081.html

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