Sadako Sasaki: Why kids in the UAE are making thousands of paper cranes
Unique initiative in the UAE puts spotlight on support for children with cancer
Dubai: Ever heard of the Japanese legend of a thousand paper cranes? The belief that these cranes symbolise a wish for good health and peace?
Well, a chain of bookstores in the UAE along with a publishing house has launched a unique initiative inspired by the gripping Japanese novel 'The Complete Story of Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes' to honour the spirit of the book’s true life protagonist and also help children with cancer in Lebanon.
Called Cranes for Charity, the month-long initiative is seeing hundreds of children from across all ages flock to the Kinokuniya book stores in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Reason? To fold thousands of Origami paper cranes in support of the Children’s Cancer Centre in Lebanon (CCCL), a non-profit organisation that provides free treatment and care for children with cancer.
“For every 1,000 Origami paper cranes that are being folded, Books Kinokuniya UAE and Tuttle Publishing will donate Dh500 to CCCL,” Steve Jones, the manager of the bookstore at Dubai Mall told Gulf News.
How it all started
Recalling how the initiative started, Jones said, “I was having lunch with my good friends from Tuttle Publishing, the publishers of 'The Complete Story of Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes', after the London Bookfair, when unexpectedly one of them said Lebanon didn’t have enough money for children’s cancer treatment. ‘Why don’t we work on something together to help’, she asked.”
The result was the birth of the ongoing campaign.
Jones said, “Tuttle Publishing are perhaps one of the largest publishers of Origami books, papers and packs in the English-speaking world. They are also the publishers of 'The Complete Story of Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes' - one of my favourite childhood books focusing on the fallout from the Hiroshima atomic bombings, and subsequent cancer issues after.”
In the book , 'The Complete Story of Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes', author Sue DiCicco and Sadako’s elder brother Masahiro Sasaki tell her story in English for the first time, even as Sadako has become a symbol of all those, especially children, who are impacted by the effects of war.
He spoke of how Sadako survived the bombings but 10 years later became extremely sick from cancer. “Her friends reminded her of the Japanese thousand paper cranes myth and how if you fold all thousand, then your wish will come true. Sadako went on to fold the paper cranes and wished to get better - but sadly passed away,” he narrated.
Inspired by her story, Books Kinokuniya UAE and Tuttle Publishing decided to do their “little part” and ask customers to fold thousands of paper cranes for CCCL.
Huge response
The response has been overwhelming.
As Jones said, “We have been so inspired by the many people who have been learning to fold a paper crane in both our Dubai and Abu Dhabi branches. It’s standing room only, as people help each other - and occasionally a staff member steps in for more advanced training. We can’t announce how many cranes have been folded so far… but it’s a lot.”
The colourful paper cranes displayed in a transparent showcase at the Kinokuniya stores, are there for all to see.
Sadako’s story is more important than ever, and we want to bring it to the attention of a new generation - while helping people in need.
“Better still, sales of 'The Complete Story of Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes' have grown by 1,000 per cent,” said Jones. “Which means that people in the UAE are reading Sadako’s story.”
In the book, 'The Complete Story of Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes', author Sue DiCicco and Sadako’s elder brother Masahiro Sasaki tell her story in English for the first time, with Sadako becoming a symbol of those, especially children, impacted by the effects of war.
“Sadako’s story is more important than ever, and we want to bring it to the attention of a new generation - while helping people in need,” said Jones.