The Children's Peace Monument 原爆の子の像
A symbol for eternity
The Children's Peace Monument in Hiroshima pays tribute to Sadako Sasaki, a young girl who died as a result of the atomic bombing, and to all the children who perished in the tragedy.
The Hiroshima Children's Peace Monument was erected in 1958. It is an oblong-shaped structure, 9 meters high, which features a stele on which are engraved the words: "This is our cry, this is our prayer, to build a world of peace". Inside is a bell and origami in the shape of cranes, symbols of peace, which tinkle in the wind. The monument is dominated by a bronze statue, that of Sadako Sasaki.
The story of Sadako Sasaki
Sadako Sasaki was two years old when, on August 6, 1945, at 8:15 am, the American atomic bomb, nicknamed "Little Boy", exploded above her city, Hiroshima. While 70,000 people died instantly, she, two kilometers away, was unscathed. The little girl grew up in good health and cultivated a talent for running: she was even first in her class in this discipline. But in the sixth year of primary school, ten years after the bombing, Sadako Sasaki suddenly contracts leukemia linked to the radiation from the bomb.
Paper cranes against disease
Then begins for her a long fight against this evil which gnaws at her from the inside. His hope: to make origami in the shape of a crane, a bird symbol of longevity and happiness in Japan. Anyone who folds a thousand of these orizuru has their wish granted, say the Japanese.
Read also: The Orizuru Tower in Hiroshima
Sadako's wish: to recover her health and return to school. So she folds, day after day, paper cranes on her hospital bed, reaching and even exceeding the number one thousand. But his wish will never be granted. She succumbed to the disease on October 25, 1955, at the age of twelve, shortly after entering college.
The emotion of his comrades
The death of Sadako Sasaki deeply moved locals, who greatly appreciated her personality and admired her for her athletic gifts. While attending his funeral, one of them, regretting not being able to visit his comrade's grave, located far from Hiroshima, suggests building one in the city park.
Read also: The Peace Memorial Park
With the help of a neighbor of Sadako, engaged in actions in favor of peace, they agree to build a monument which pays homage, not only to Sadako but to all the child victims of the bomb: a way of giving a deep meaning to this achievement.
A great fundraiser
They then begin to raise funds. As luck would have it, this fundraiser came at a time when school principals from all over Japan were gathered, which allowed the project to become known throughout the country. This is how the statue could be designed and inaugurated on May 5, 1958, Children's Day in Japan. It is the work of artist Kiyoshi Ikebe, professor at Tokyo University of the Arts.
Millions of origami
Sadako stands at the top of the monument, holding a paper crane in her hands. These orizuru have since become a symbol of peace. Also, people from Japan and around the world come to deposit some 10 million paper cranes there every year as a sign of homage and compassion for the families of missing children.
The story of this little girl is very famous in Japan today. A film, Senbonzuru ("a thousand cranes"), a picture book, a documentary book, and a song have been made from this story, which is also taught in schools. The victim becomes a symbol, Sadako Sasaki only lived twelve springs but her memory remains forever...
Visiter le parc de la paix avec un guide spécialiste d'Hiroshima
Address, timetable & access
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Address
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Timetable
From Hiroshima Station, Tram Lines No. 2 and 6, Genbaku Domu Mae Station -
Access
Accessible every day without interruption