International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons

Printable version [pdf]

Japanese paper cranes have become a well-known symbol of the movement for a world without nuclear weapons. Every year thousands of students across the globe fold paper cranes to honour the children who died in the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. You could take part in this tradition by sending your own paper cranes to a special peace memorial in Japan.

Steps

1. Read the story of Sadako, a victim of the Hiroshima bomb.
2. Find some square pieces of paper, preferably colour, or cut squares from rectangular paper.
3. Fold paper cranes with your classmates - see if you can make 1000 together! (see here for instructions).
4. Send your paper cranes to Sadako's peace memorial in Hiroshima to honour her memory: Peace Promotion Division, The City of Hiroshima, 1-5 Nakajima-cho Naka-ku, Hiroshima 730-0811 Japan

The atomic bombings

Nuclear bombs have been used in warfare twice:

1. Hiroshima, Japan, 6 August 1945, an atomic bomb containing 50-70kg of enriched uranium killed 90,000 people instantly and a further 145,000 people by the end of 1945. Shockwaves destroyed everything within a 4km radius.
2. Nagasaki, Japan, 9 August 1945, an atomic bomb containing 6.2kg of plutonium killed 40,000 people instantly and a further 75,000 people by the end of 1945. Shockwaves destroyed everything within a 1km radius.

Sadako's story

Sadako Sasaki was two years old when the United States dropped an atomic bomb on her city, Hiroshima, in 1945. At the time of the explosion, she was at home with her mother. Despite being just 1km from the centre of the blast, she managed to survive the immediate effects.

However, 10 years later purple spots started to form on her legs as a result of radiation sickness from the bombing. She was diagnosed with leukaemia, a cancer of the blood. While in hospital, she learnt that according to Japanese legend, if she managed to fold 1000 paper cranes she would be granted a wish.

She started out folding dozens of cranes each day. When she ran out of paper, she used medicine wrappings and whatever else she could find. But then her condition worsened and she could only manage to fold one or two a day. Sadly, she died before reaching her target of 1000 cranes. Her friends folded the remainder after her death.

Sadako now symbolizes the impact of nuclear war. A memorial has been built in Hiroshima to honour her and all other child victims of the nuclear bombings. Her story continues to inspire thousands of people to work for the abolition of nuclear weapons.

Japanese paper cranes have become a well-known symbol of the movement for a world without nuclear weapons. Every year thousands of students across the globe fold paper cranes to honour the children who died in the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. You could take part in this tradition by sending your own paper cranes to a special peace memorial in Japan.

Instructions for folding a paper crane [pdf]