The Letter Written by Peper Crane

Do you know what this is(Two pictures on the right side)? This is paper cranes!! There are 1000 cranes and they make one letter. This length is one meter and width is also one meter. It is so big, isn't it?? My sister and her friends made this today. They are member of soft tennis club, and the tournament will hold on Sunday. They made it for their senior. They wish their team mate win the tournament making the crane. However, why Japanese people make "senbazuru"?? I checked it today.

In Muromachi period, making "senbazuru" started as a game. And then, it speared commoner in Edo period. People think crane is auspicious bird because there are old saying, "crane is one thousand years and turtle is ten thousand years". That means crane and turtle is long life animals. Crane is easy to make by paper, so people start to make it for sick people with to wish on the crane. People believe "senbazuru" has the power to heal disease.

There are a famous story. There were a girl who was damaged by atom bomb in "world war Ⅱ" . She had terrible disease, leukemia. She kept making paper cranes, with package of medicine, in the hospital. She liked to run, so she wanted to run thoroughly. She had never given up to live. However, her dream didn't come true. Her name is Sadako Sasaki. There are her stature in the Atomic Bomb Memorial Dome in Hiroshima. It is sad story, but we mustn't forget her. I think "senbazuru" is also symbol of peace.

Now, people send it with their wishes. The crane was held piece by piece, so the cranes have much warm heart. The people who receive it will be so happy. When you want to cheer your important person, why don't you make "senbazuru" and send it? It surely make them happy.

http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%8D%83%E7%BE%BD%E9%B6%B4

http://www.pcf.city.hiroshima.jp/kids/KPSH_J/hiroshima/sadako/sadako_a_1.html

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