Paper Cranes for Hiroshima at Anzac Square

Every year on 6 August, the city of Hiroshima conducts a Peace Memorial Ceremony for the estimated 140,000 people who lost their lives in the atomic bombing of the city in the last days of World War II, and to pray for lasting world peace. At the ceremony, the Mayor of Hiroshima delivers a Peace Declaration which is sent to every country in the world. The Peace Bell rings and sirens sound across the city at 8:15am, the exact time that the atomic bomb was dropped on 6 August, 1945. 

Sadako Sasaki was 2 years old at the time of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. She survived and appeared unharmed but was diagnosed with leukemia nine years later. In keeping with the Japanese saying that one who folds 1000 paper cranes will be granted a wish, she kept folding cranes from her hospital bed until her passing on 25 October, 1955 at the age of 12. During her illness, Sadako is said to have shared thoughts on how she could make the world a more peaceful place. Today, Hiroshima receives around 10 million paper cranes each year from all around the world. The paper cranes are beautifully displayed in clear cases at the Children's Peace Monument in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, and the monument itself plays host to a seemingly endless procession of school groups, with the children gathering to ring the bell (thoughtfully designed as an origami crane) and sing songs of peace, some of which are original compositions by the students.

At Anzac Square, our 1000 Crane Project continues. In the spirit of the peace movement inspired by Sadako Sasaki, visitors to Anzac Square Memorial Galleries have been helping us to reach our goal of sending 1000 paper cranes to Hiroshima. With only a month to go, we need your help!

Community Contributions

The project has generated a lot of interest across the community, resulting in many heart-warming stories. One community group visited to contribute cranes that they had folded, having held workshops especially to make cranes for our project. One visitor returned and brought a new group of friends to fold more cranes, even displaying her origami expertise by folding a crane so miniscule that it fit neatly in the centre of a 50-cent piece.

Another sat down and read the entire book (81 pages) about Sadako (entitled ‘Sadako and the Thousand Cranes’) from cover to cover, whereas other visitors already knew the story and have shared it with others as they constructed cranes. 

Come and help us reach our goal! 

We are inviting you to visit Anzac Square Memorial Galleries from now until Friday 13 September 2024 to join in our project. You are welcome to bring in a crane that you have folded at home to add to the collection, or fold one using origami paper we have prepared in our Post World War II Gallery. Once we have assembled 1000 cranes, they will be bundled together and sent to Hiroshima. Our paper cranes will be displayed at the Children’s Peace Monument in the Hiroshima Peace Park. 

Visit Anzac Square (open 10 am - 4 pm Sunday to Friday) to fold your crane (bookings required for school groups - please contact us in advance by phone or email two weeks prior). You can find us at 285 Ann St, under the Shrine of Remembrance. There will be instructions and staff on hand in our Post World War II Gallery to help you fold your first crane. After your visit, see the progress of the project by following us on Facebook and Instagram. 

If you’re a teacher or educator looking to broaden your students’ understanding of the War in the Pacific ahead of this important anniversary, you can also find a variety of educational resources on Curriculum Connect.

Also, be sure to join our ‘Peace Cranes for Hiroshima’ Live at the Library on Tuesday, 6 August at 9:30am. In this special session, we will discuss the bombing of Hiroshima, view items and photographs from State Library collections and take part in a virtual paper crane folding workshop. Click here to secure a booking for your class.

References

The Elders 2020, ‘The Story of Sadako Sasaki and the Hiroshima Peace Cranes’, theelders.org, 27 July 2020, viewed 1 December 2023, https://theelders.org/news/story-sadako-sasaki-and-hiroshima-peace-cranes  

Manhattan Project National Historical Park 2023, ‘The Story of Sadako Sasaki’, National Park Service,  2 August 2023, viewed 1 December 2023, https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/the-story-of-sadako-sasaki.htm  

The City of Hiroshima n.d., ‘Paper Cranes and Children's Peace Monument’, viewed 1 December 2023, https://www.city.hiroshima.lg.jp/site/english/158105.html 

The City of Hiroshima n.d., 'Peace Memorial Ceremony', viewed 30 April 2024, https://www.city.hiroshima.lg.jp/site/english/115509.html