The paper crane has become an international symbol of peace in recent years as a result of it’s connection to the story of a young Japanese girl named Sadako Sasaki born in 1943.
Sadako was two years old when the atom bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan on August 6, 1945.
As she grew up, Sadako was a strong, courageous and athletic girl. In 1955, at age 11, while practicing for a big race, she became dizzy and fell to the ground.
Sadako was diagnosed with Leukemia, "the atom bomb" disease.
Sadako’s best friend told her of an old Japanese legend which said that anyone who folds a thousand paper cranes would be granted a wish. Sadako hoped that the gods would grant her a wish to get well so that she could run again. She started to work on the paper cranes and completed over 1000 before dying on October 25, 1955 at the age of twelve.The point is that she never gave up.
She continued to make paper cranes until she died.
Inspired by her courage and strength,
Sadako’s friends and classmates put together a book of her letters and published it.
They began to dream of building a monument to Sadako and all of the children killed by the atom bomb.
Young people all over Japan helped collect money for the project.In 1958, a statue of Sadako holding a golden crane was unveiled in Hiroshima Peace Park. The children also made a wish which is inscribed at the bottom of the statue and reads:
"This is our cry, This is our prayer, Peace in the world".
Today, people all over the world fold paper cranes and send them to Sadako’s monument in Hiroshima.
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Today’s Goddess: Nakisawame-no-Mikoto
Hiroshima Peace Ceremony (Japan)
Themes: Peace; Honor; History; Death; Forgiveness
Symbols: Trees
About Nakisawame-no-Mikoto: The Goddess of mourning in Japan, Nakisawame-no-Mikoto weeps
with the memories of the many innocent people who have died in wars throughout the ages. She
comes into our hearts today in the hope that we will learn from our collective past. According to tradition,
Nakisawame-no-Mikoto lives in the base of trees, her roots holding firm to the earth and its history.
This also speaks strongly of our family trees and the importance of kinship.
To Do Today: On August 6, 1945, the atom bomb landed in Hiroshima, resulting in the loss
of thousands of lives and many years of radiation sickness. In the spirit of Nakisawame-no-Mikoto,
today acts as a memorial to the people who died and a celebration of the peace that has since been
maintained. Traditionally, tiny paper lanterns are floated on flowing waters as wishes for the dead.
So, light a candle today for someone you know who died needlessly, or fighting for a just cause.
The flame of the candle represents the goddess and the memory of that person whose efforts light
the way for a better future.
To encourage peace between yourself and someone else, plant a token that represents your desire
beneath a tree so that this Goddess can begin helping you achieve harmony.
Patricia Telesco~ “365 Goddess”