Sadako Sasaki (7 January 1943 – 25 October 1955)
The Japanese crane is a very strong symbol in Japan, referring to Sadako Sasaki. The story tells of a little girl who suffered from leukemia following the atomic bomb explosion when she was just 2 years old. According to Japanese tradition, if a person can fold 1,000 origami cranes, their wish will be granted. In the hope of being cured, Sadako set about folding these cranes at the age of 12. She succeeded in her task, but her wish did not come true and she died on October 25, 1955. The Children’s Peace Monument, a statue with a crane, symbolizing hope and peace, pays tribute to her in Hiroshima’s Peace Park.
