Why was Sadako Sasaki famous?

Answer 1

Sadako Sasaki (1943-1955) was a Japanese hibakusha, a Survivor of the US atomic bombings at the end of World War 2. She and her parents survived, but Sadako died of radiation-induced illness at the age of 12.

She is known for her pursuit of folding origami cranes, a traditional ritual for those who are seeking a divine intervention. She folded over 1000 after being diagnosed with terminal leukemia in 1954. Her story is related in the book "Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes" (1977) by Eleanor Coerr.

Sadako was born in Hiroshima in 1943 and was two years old at the time of the bombing and miraculously she and her parents lived through the attack.

On August 6, 1945, an atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. Sadako was at home with her family in Kusunoki-cho, about 1.7 km from the hypocenter. The blast blew her out of the house, but she escaped without a burn or injury. Very soon, flames were leaping up in the area. Sadako's mother fled, carrying her daughter. Near Misasa Bridge, they were caught in the "black rain" which is rain that condenses from the superheated air and carries irradiated dust back to the surface.

Sadako was a very healthy girl for 10 years after the bombing; she was her parents' favorite and was very athletic and had a love for running. By the 6th grade she was 135 cm tall and weighed 27 kilograms (she was a little thin). She could run 50 meters in 7.5 seconds, so she never lost a race. Chosen to be one of the relay race runners for Fall Sports Day, she turned in a fine performance. Her dream was to become a physical education teacher in junior high school.

It was noticed around September 1954 that she looked a little pale, but nobody was particularly worried, until one day she was running track and collapsed. Her parents brought her to the hospital and her parents' worst fears had been a reality. By November 1954, lumps had developed on her neck and behind her ears. Then in January 1955, purple spots had started to form on her legs. She was diagnosed with leukemia or "the atom bomb disease" as her mother had called it several times. She was hospitalized on February 21, 1955 and given one year or less to live. On August 3, 1955, Chizuko Hamamoto, her best friend came to the hospital to see her and folded a paper crane out of a little gold piece of paper that was in the hospital room. She reminded Sadako of the old Japanese Legend that anyone who folds a thousand paper cranes so pleases the gods that the folder is granted a wish.

At the end of August, 1955, less than a month after she has started folding Sadako had achieved her goal of one thousand origami Cranes and continued to fold more cranes Sadako stringed thread through lines of cranes that she folded and hung them from the ceiling of her room in the hospital. Although her condition continued to worsen she kept making more and more cranes.She made them out of anything she could find because sometimes she couldn't find paper. Chizuko brought her paper from school so she could make more cranes because it seemed to keep her spirits up. She worked all day to make one crane, then another out of anything she could find. Sadako died on the morning of October 25, 1955 at the young and unfulfilled age of 12. Her last words were "it's tasty." Referring to the tea she had just drank before her passing.

After her death her friends and school mates raised money by publishing cards to have a memorial built in her; and the other victims of the atomic bombs honor. In 1958, a statue of Sadako holding a golden crane was unveiled in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial, also called the Genbaku Dome. At the foot of the statue is a plaque that reads, This is our cry. This is our prayer. Peace in the world. There is also a statue of her in the Seattle Peace Park. Sadako has become a leading symbol of the impact of a nuclear war. Sadako is also a heroine for many girls in Japan. Her story is told in some Japanese schools on the anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing. Dedicated to her, people all over Japan celebrate August 6 as the annual peace day. This little girl had all the hope in the world. Even if she did lose her battle for life, she is inspiring people to fight for their lives.

Every day more and more people put Origami Cranes on the memorial in honor of this brave little girl. Her story warms the hearts of millions not only in Japan but in other countries around the world. Her story is told in classrooms in many countries and has given terminally ill cancer patients hope and comfort, and inspired many others to support world peace so this tragedy never has to happen again. Her story also inspired many organizations such as Cranes For Peace which spreads Sadako Sasaki's legacy and raises funds by selling CD's of her story. This money goes into helping keep the memorial up and running.

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Answer 2

She attempted to fold 1000 paper cranes to save her life from radaition by the atom bomb

To learn more read sadako and the 1000 paper cranes