About The Project

So why 1000 paper cranes? What started this all?
After reading the true story of Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Elanor Coerr, I was feeling sad, yet inspired. Sadako was a young woman living Hiroshima at the time of the bombing. She developed leukemia not long after. While she was in a nursing home on her death bed, she decided to attempt to fold 1000 paper cranes. According to Japanese folklore, folding 1000 paper cranes allows the folder one granted wish, and hers was to live. Sadly she only lived to make 644 cranes. Sadako’s friends and family completed the remaining cranes for her.

While Sadako’s story didn’t have a happy ending, her goal of creating 1000 paper cranes was ambitious and has become a symbol of world peace. (Background: Cranes are a symbol of peace in Japanese culture. One myth holds that cranes live for 1000 years, hence making 1000 paper cranes.)

So I adopted this project. With a twist. Since cranes are symbols of peace, I wanted to put some positive words on there. My hope is that people will see the crane and be influenced in a positive way, even if it’s just a pleasant thought. Without being too whimsical or naive, I just wanted to spread a bit of happiness around in a relatively simple way. And of course, I’d love to hear from anyone who finds one, or stumbles onto this blog.

So what exactly is the mission?
I am attempting to make 1000 paper cranes, putting a different positive word on each of them. My hope is that I will be able to place all 1000 in different locations. Since I am located in Central New Jersey, most of them will likely be placed around there (unless I am on vacation or taking a day trip.)

I am making each paper crane on my own and “releasing it.” There are between 1 and 12 cranes of the same color. (This is due to the fact that I didn’t buy individual pieces of 6x6 paper, but paper booklets to save on costs.) A picture of each crane with its word will be pictured, in addition to a picture of the crane in its location.