Kids, Colors and Cranes

The Children's Peace Monument in Hiroshima's Peace Park

Chantelle Silva Jun 30, 2013 - 1分鐘閱讀時間

Thousands of paper cranes bring a wealth of color to Peace Park

The Children's Peace Monument stands tall in Peace Park

Statues of children rest atop the monument

There are nine 'booths' surrounding the statue, each one housing thousands of paper cranes

Messages of peace made by children from around the world are on display

Strings of paper cranes hang from the monument

Children from all around Japan, and the world, come to Hiroshima's Peace Park to offer cranes they have made

Each crane reflects a desire for peace on Earth and a call for an end to nuclear weapons

Children gather to sing a song of peace before the monument

The Children's Peace Monument in Hiroshima's Peace Park brims with color and joy. It is home to thousands of paper cranes which have been folded and sent by children from all over the world. Origami cranes have long been a symbol of peace in Japan, an idea made famous by Sadako Sasaki's quest to fold 1000 paper cranes in the hope of curing her illness. The Children's Peace Monument, built in 1958, was inspired by Sadako's story and in memory of all the children that died following the atomic bomb which was dropped on Hiroshima in 1945. Along with being a place of remembrance and reflection, the monument is also a space of optimism. The thousands of colorful cranes and messages of peace which are on display exude a positive energy which is bound to leave you smiling and feeling hopeful for the future.

Chantelle Silva @chantelle.silva

My first encounter with Japan was in June 2013, when I spent a month in Tokyo/Hiroshima interning for Japan Travel. I knew from the moment that I set foot in this mesmerising country that one month would not nearly be enough time to enjoy what Japan has to offer. So here I am back in Japan, this ...