When we wish something, such as family health or world peace, we fold origami paper to make cranes.
If the number reaches one thousand, which is called Senba-zuru, the wish will be realized.
I have seen a number of blue and yellow paper cranes since the battle began in Ukraine.
A famous story about the Senba-zuru is about a girl with leukemia after the atomic bomb attack on Hiroshima in 1945. The girl was fifteen years old and she folded origami cranes every day wishing for her recovery. She created over a thousand of cranes, however she passed away before long.
Since then, thousands of paper cranes have been made wishing for no-war and millions of them are being displayed in Hiroshima.
Senba-zuru can be seen in shrines and temples, or hospitals and various facilities as well.
Some people make it without special reason.
Of course we know that the paper cranes don’t actually bring people’s health or world peace.
Even if it is only a superstition, we keep making it because we want to do something to express our feelings, or prayers.
And while working on origami, our minds are serene and concentrate on our wishes.
I hope no more Ukrainian people would be killed and they could return to their homes as soon as possible.
