The Love Shack: 1000 Paper Cranes

Background: On March 10, 2011 a huge 8.9 magnitude earthquake in Japan triggered a massive tsunami destroying everything in it's path and killing hundreds of people. When I heard of the devastation I sat at my computer for a very long time looking at pictures of the destruction and the distraught people and I just wept. Even now while writing this almost 3 months later, tears are welling up. My heart ached for those dear people.

Now to the 1000 Paper Cranes:
Taken from the Yuma Daily Sun:
"After hearing about the earthquakes and the tragedies that occurred in Japan, eight local Japanese women formed a foundation called the Sakura Group and enlisted the help Castle Dome Middle School.

Since clothing and household items for the survivors of the tsunami and earthquake were not being accepted because there was nowhere for them to be stored and distributed, students decided to make 1,000 origami cranes during their homeroom period under the guidance of the women from the Sakura Group.

It is a Japanese story, said Principal Ed Richardson, that a girl named Sadako Sasaki, who lived near Hiroshima, Japan, was diagnosed with leukemia in 1954.

“Sadako's best friend Chizuko came to visit her and brought with her some origami. She told Sadako the legend of the crane. It is Japanese legend that folding 1,000 paper cranes (senzaburu) so pleases the gods that the folder is granted a wish. Sadako wished to get well. So, after hearing the legend, Sadako decided to fold 1,000 cranes.”

It is said that Sadako made 644 cranes before she died peacefully in her sleep. Her classmates, who were profoundly impacted by her story, decided to complete her project of making 1,000 cranes and also had a statue built in her honor.

“Making the cranes has since become a sign of courage, strength and support,” Richardson explained.

My friend Ikko is part of this special group of Japanese women living in Yuma. She asked if I would be willing to help with the project. OF COURSE!! Who would turn down an opportunity to be part of such a fun act of service? Certainly not me and I was able to gather three other friends to help as well.

The cranes were to be organized together as a rainbow of cranes. Our job was to fold the red cranes. I'm not the greatest creative person and origami even proved to be a bit of a challenge but we got the job done. Ikko made us some DELICIOUS Japanese snacks and her poor son Haru (7-years-old) endured the other children tearing into all of his super fun toys.