Children's Peace Monument

Seeing a groups of school children paying their respects by singing songs and reciting poems in front of Children's Peace Monument was a profoundly emotional experience. It is a place that tells a specific, heartbreaking story that has come to represent a universal hope: that no more children will ever suffer from the horrors of nuclear war.

It is located Inside Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, not far from the museum and Atomic Bomb Dome. It is immediately after the peace flame in the way to Dime. It was unveiled on Children’s Day in Japan in 1958 on fifth May. And dedicated to All the children who died as a result of the atomic bombing. Story of Sadako Sasaki This monument is inspired by Sadako Sasaki, a girl who was 2 years old at the time of the Hiroshima bombing (6 August 1945).Ten years later, she developed leukemia due to radiation exposure. While in hospital, Sadako began folding paper cranes inspired by a Japanese belief that folding 1,000 cranes could make a wish come true. Sadako managed to fold over a thousand cranes before her death in 1955 at the age of 12. Her classmates and friends collected donations nationwide and internationally to build this monument in her memory and for all child victims. The statue is about 9 meters (30 feet) high. At the top stands a bronze statue of a girl (Sadako) holding a golden origami crane above her head, symbolizing hope and peace. On the sides are figures of a boy and a girl representing a bright future and innocence. Around the base are glass cases filled with thousands of colorful paper cranes sent from children and peace groups all over the world every year. There is an inscription written at the base of the monument in Japanese, the meaning of which is ; ‘This is our cry. This is our prayer. For building peace in the world.’

Powerful monument to remember all those children that died after the Hiroshima Atomic Bombing. The paper swans hanging in the plastic/metal display cases are impressive.

This monument is very close to the Dome, you will see the monument, origamis and the story behind. In front you will be able to visit the museum and see other monuments. You can go walking and visit other places later like Osaka Castle. The story behind all these monument is impressive. In addition, the surrounding is very beautiful, at least in April that is the month that I came to Japan. You will be amazed how Japanese rebuilt the city.

Well thought out homage to the children who were affected by the atomic bombing. The monument is a short walk away from the river and the museum. It’s a great place to pass by and visit this monument, especially during the evening. Worth visiting during your trip!

Very moving experience. Groups of school children paying their respects at the Children's Peace Monument with song, poems and presentation of a thousand origami cranes.

Thoughtful homage to all the children who sadly lost their lives when the A Bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. Ring the bell for a sense of peace and respect. Place your paper artwork or origami bird in one of the boxes that will be left open on the day.

Monument remembering Sadako, and the children that lost their lives during the bombing. The place is decorated with origami cranes, which are associated with the story of Sadako, one of the most relevant hibakusha

August 6, 1945. Little Boy. Hiroshima. A young girl, Sadako Sasaki, was just two when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. She was at home with her family and survived the blast, but was blown outside where she received a huge exposure to radiation. While she and her mom were fleeing, they were caught in the black rain and more radiation exposure. She seemed to grow and thrive, racing and playing with her peers, however in 1954, she developed swelling in her head and neck. A year later she had purpura. She was diagnosed with "atomic bomb disease," incurable, malignant leukemia. At the hospital where she was being treated, she decided to fold one thousand origami cranes to be granted one wish. The wish to survive. The wish to live. She folded the cranes from whatever she could find. Medical wrappings. Papers from other patient's get well gifts. She folded over a 1,000 origami cranes, but 10 years after an atomic bomb was detonated in Hiroshima, Sadako Sasaki died on October 25, 1955 at the age of 12. After her death, her friends raised funds to honor her and other innocent, young victims of the Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima. In 1958, a statue with a young girl holding a crane was unveiled. This is our cry. This is our prayer. Peace in the world. Her cranes are a symbol of peace and an inspiration to others who create strings of 1000 origami cranes to never forget the lives that were taken too early. Sadako's cranes have been donated around the world to promote peace. Pearl Harbor. The Museum of Tolerance. The 9/11 Memorial. A must visit to honor the innocent young victims of World War II and create a world free of nuclear weapons. Never forget.

Senbazuru... 1000 paper cranes that's the symbol of peace and hope at this Children's Peace Monument...I have a picture of it when I was a child and growing up I absolutely loved origami I couldn't get enough of it and still do it to this day I was obsessed folding paper cranes or in Japanese is tsuru and the story behind Sasaki Sadako is so heartbreaking as it really hits too close to home for me personally. I remember and still have picture of me standing under the memorial with all the cranes handing under so gracefully now is all incased with cranes from all over the world is felt so personally painful yet healing. Every single monument and section of this park has purpose and though we came for mom I left with a deep appreciation of my culture and how the came together to heal and you'll find symbols of cranes throughout Hiroshima. どうもありがとうございます！

Children's Peace Monument / Hiroshima -- Do you know the story of Sadako Sasaki? She was just two years old when the A-bomb struck Hiroshima. Although she survived the blast, she developed leukemia from radiation exposure and died in 1955 at age 12. She had a goal of folding 1,000 cranes to symbolize a world without nuclear weapons, and miraculously she accomplished her goal just before her death. Now thousands of colorful origami cranes in glass cases flank this memorial to all the children who perished due to the A-bomb blast even years afterward. Sadako stands on top of the memorial, and there was a ceremony when we visited where a large group of schoolchildren were contributing even more cranes (photo: https://yelp.to/wckv7jJSi8). It was all quite moving as they all prayed for peace. RELATED - Exploring Japan? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2qrUBZo

Memorial to children who died due to the 1945 atomic bombing, surrounded by paper cranes. After her death, friends of Sasaki Sasako and schoolmates published a collection of letters in order to raise funds to build a memorial to her and all of the children who had died from the effects of the atomic bomb, including another Japanese girl Yoko Moriwaki. Sadako Sasaki (became the most widely known hibakusha - a Japanese term meaning "bomb-affected person") was at home when the explosion occurred, about 1 mile away from ground zero. She was blown out of the window and her mother ran out to find her, suspecting she may be dead, but instead finding her two-year-old daughter alive with no apparent injuries. While they were fleeing, Sasaki and her mother were caught in black rain. Sasaki's father, Shigeo, told her the legend of the cranes and she set herself a goal of folding 1,000 of them, which was believed to grant the folder a wish. Although she had plenty of free time during her days in the hospital, Sasaki lacked paper, so she used medicine wrappings and whatever else she could scrounge; including going to other patients' rooms to ask for the paper from their get-well presents. Her best friend, Chizuko Hamamoto, also brought paper from school for Sasaki to use. By the end of August 1955, two months before her death from leukemia, Sasaki had achieved her goal and continued to fold 300 more cranes for Sadako's older brother, Masahiro Sasaki. In 1958, a statue of Sasaki holding a golden crane was unveiled in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. At the foot of the statue is a plaque that reads: "This is our cry. This is our prayer. Peace in the world." For excellent guides for the day, contact Triple Lights tour company for all over Japan. Just run a web search for that name. Request Michiru Azuma or Yuko for your Hiroshima tour guide, whichever are available.