On August 6th, 1945, when the United States dropped the atomic bombs on the Japanese city of Hiroshima, the two-year-old toddler, Sadako Sasaki, lived about 1 mile away from the drop site. Black rain and high radiation in the air existed while Sadako and her mother escaped. In January 1955, Sadako, like many young children who were exposed to the atomic bomb radiation, was diagnosed with leukemia.
During her hospitalization, Sadako learned about the Senbazuru legend that states that folding 1000 cranes of paper grants the folder a wish. Sadako spent the time in the hospital folding 1000 paper cranes, wishing to get well. Sadly, she passed away on October 25th, 1955; she was 12.
In commemoration of Sadako and other children who died from the effects of the atomic bomb, Sadako’s friends raised money and built a monument. In 1958, a statue of Sasaki holding a golden crane was unveiled in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. The plaque at the foot of the statue reads: “This is our cry. This is our prayer. Peace in the world.”
In 1988, Floyd Schmoe (1895-2001), a pacifist, author, University of Washington professor, and marine biologist, won the Hiroshima Peace Prize and used the money to establish the Peace Park in Seattle. With the help of volunteers from the community, the park was dedicated on August 6th, 1990, the 45ᵗʰ anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima. Standing in the park is the lifesize bronze statue of Sadako holding an origami crane on her right. Many of the park visitors leave paper cranes around the sculpture.
Fratelli’s Ice Cream gifted the statue to the city and commissioned Daryl Smith to sculpt it.
It is one of few statues that honor women in Washington state.
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