At mid-night on January 7, 1943, a Japanese family, the Sasakis of the Sasaki Barber shop, had a girl. The Sasakis named her “Sadako”.
Sadako's father, Shigeo, had to join military service and was assigned to the Army Hospital in Hiroshima.
August 6, 1945, was a dark day for Japan and the world. The world's first atomic bomb was detonated over Hiroshima.
It was a hot summer morning when it happened.
On August 6, the air-raid sirens sounded as usual. But just after 7 a.m. there was an “all-clear” and people stepped out. Sadako, her grandmother, her mother, and brother Masahiro were having breakfast. Then all of a sudden, there was a blinding flash, and a thunderous blast. The walls collapsed. They managed to get up and rush out to the river outside. All of a sudden, the grandmother decided to return to the house to retrieve something. That was the last time they saw her.
There was fire everywhere. People were panic-stricken, and someone helped the Sasakis into a boat to escape. Though only a four-year old, Masahiro remembers it to be a leaking boat.
They had hardly begun their journey when it started to rain. Sadako's clothes soon had dark stains that the rain left.
After the bombing, Shigeo returned to Hiroshima as a rescue squad member. On August 9, he managed to locate his home only to find that his mother was no more.
It was now 1949 and Sadakowas an energetic child, was a student in “Bamboo Class” at the Nobori-cho Elementary School, and exceptional in singing and sports.
It was 1955. Ten years after the horrific atomic bombing. One day, i.e. Spring Field Day, the school conducted a relay race. The “Bamboo Class” team was there, but fumbled the baton pass, and was placed last. At the end of the day, there was a review and the class decided that Sadako had to take part. Every day after class, there was to be relay-race practice.
Soon, it was time for Fall Field Day, and another relay race. “Bamboo Class” was determined to win because it had Sadako in the team.
Sudden turn of events
The races finished and “Bamboo Class” emerged victorious. Sadako was the champion. But her classmates and the others took one look at her and noticed that something was wrong. She was tiring and had a very stiff neck. Later, she had a swollen face.
She was admitted to a hospital. After tests, doctors told Shigeo that Sadako had leukaemia and just a year to live. Sadako was sent to the Hiroshima Red Cross Hospital. News spread and everyone in the school decided to support Sadako and take turns to visit her.
In August, high school students in Nagoya thought of an idea. They folded 1,000 paper cranes and sent them to the hospital. Sadako too got some, in many colours and sizes. It was graduation day at Nobori-cho School and the hospital allowed Sadako to attend a farewell party for “Bamboo Class”.
On October 25, Sadako was no more. She was 12. It was also a year since “Bamboo Class” had won the relay race.
“Bamboo Class” was in tremendous shock. Many, like Sadako, had experienced the bombing. After discussing many ideas, they decided to build a monument for all children who were affected by the bombing. They also decided to take a pledge to try and rid the world of atomic bombs.
Soon people began to raise funds for the monument. Nearly 3,000 schools in and around Japan responded and sent money and letters of support.
In January 1957, it was officially decided to build the Children's Peace Monument at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. A statue was completed on May 5, 1958, two years after Sadako's passing on.
An inscription read:
“Let no more children fall victim
to an atomic bombing,
This is our cry.
This is our prayer.
For building peace in the world.”
Sadako had a short life, but her life is a story that has touched millions of hearts around the world.
Even today, just before August 6 and 9 dawn, and the world remembers the terrible days, letters of support and paper cranes continue to be sent to the Children's Peace Monument at Hiroshima.
One thousand cranes
The U.S. conducted two atomic bombings against the cities of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, and Nagasaki in Japan on August 9, 1945.
Within the first two to four months of the attacks, the after-effects affected 90,000–1,66,000 people in Hiroshima and 60,000–80,000 in Nagasaki. People were killed instantly, or suffered burns. Most were affected by radiation sickness, and other illnesses.
The Children's Peace Monument is located in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, in the city of Hiroshima. A representation of Sadako is atop the structure where she holds a crane.
After the statue was completed, her life began to gain popularity and be known as the story of Sadako and the paper cranes. This happened after Austrian journalist Robert Jungk visited Hiroshima in 1956 and heard her story, prompting him to retell the story in a book.
The jazz fusion band Hiroshima wrote a song called “Thousand Cranes” inspired by Sadako's story and as a tribute to the suffering that Hiroshima underwent.
In the city of Nagasaki too, there is a Nagasaki Atomic bomb museum and a peace statue.
Make a wish
The story was that if a person folded 1,000 paper cranes their wish would come true. In hospital, Sadako began to fold paper cranes and as she finished each one, prayed that she get well.
