Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Copics and cranes

At Hiroshima, we visited the Peace Museum and I saw a display of tiny origami cranes. They were the actual cranes folded by Sadako Sasaki, a young girl who was a victim of the atomic bomb that was dropped over Hiroshima in 1945. She developed leukemia as a result of exposure to the radiation and her classmates folded a thousand cranes with the hope that she would be cured.


She continued to fold them even after the thousand were completed and used whatever type of paper she could find--cellophane, gum wrappers. I was humbled by how neatly they were folded and the fact that she created little works of art with what she had. Apologies for the dark photo but we weren't allowed to use flash in the museum.


And for anyone who's interested, here's a shot of my Kokuyo stash--love the yellows!--and the 19 Copics that I got. I thought I bought a dozen but 19 is a nice number. I should have rounded it off to 20.

14 comments:

  1. So glad to see you made it back home safe & sound! Sounds like you had a wonderful visit!! Love the background story on the origami figurines...love that you found some copics too! :) I heard that we will not be able to get Kokuyo adhesive in the states now. I will miss the Dot n Roller. :(

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  2. I remember that book! I had to teach my class how to fold cranes too!

    Can't wait to see what you do with your new copic stash! :)

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  3. Wow.... what a great stash... and what an inspiring tale of the cranes. They are quite intricate to fold. Looking forward to some lovely colour creations

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  4. Wow Donna what an inspiring story about the cranes. Your Copics look very yummy :D

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  5. Thank you for the touching story about the cranes, it must be stunning to see the actual work by the girl. I am drooling all over your Kokuyo stash and the Copics you got! Just like Jenn said, the difference is that I am already missing the Dot n' Roller... :(

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  6. Oh, thanks for sharing the cranes story! I used to do some origami figurines when I was a child. I am really behind - never heard of this Kokuyo!?! Yeep, I think you should have rounded it up to 20 copics.... Can`t wait to see what you colour with them!

    Hugs,
    Vanessa

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  7. I see some of my VERY Faves in your new stash of copics....

    What a touching story about the little girl...
    thanks for sharing!!

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  8. Beautiful work with the origami papers! What a wonderful array of copics you have!

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  9. Wow, what an amazing exhibit...so inspiring.
    Count me in as another one mourning the loss of the Dot n Roller. :(
    Looks like you had the perfect vacation, Donna!

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  10. Thank you for the story about the cranes, Donna! I might pick up the book next time I go to the book store. I just used up my last Kokuyo adhesive, I will miss it! :)

    Love your new Copics, they look really yummy! Can't wait to see what you color with them!!

    Have a wonderful weekend!

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  11. What gorgeous origami cranes - I went through a phase of cranes last year... I made about a hundred and turned them into mobiles. So much fun. Hope all is well. xxx

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  12. Wow, love the origami arts. Nice to hear that you found your copics. Too excited to see your next Copics work. Happy crafting!

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  13. I just came across with this pos.Thanks for sharing the Peace Museum visit. My friend Akiko told me about the thousand cranes...evry time, someone she knows is sick, she will fold as many cranes (always aim for 1000) as possible. Love your copics. I'm still getting to know mine ...:)

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