Origami: Turning Paper into Calm and Creativity
A long time ago in Japan, paper was rare and very special. People didn’t use it for notes or letters like we do today. Instead, they folded it into shapes for ceremonies, festivals, and good luck.
One of the most famous origami shapes is the crane, or orizuru. People believed cranes live a thousand years, so folding one was a way to wish for long life and happiness. There’s even a story that makes this tradition especially powerful: the story of Sadako Sasaki.
Sadako was a young girl in Hiroshima who became very sick after the atomic bomb in 1945. She wanted to live, so she began folding one thousand paper cranes, believing that by completing them, she would be granted a wish for health and peace. She didn’t finish them all in time, but her story inspired people all over Japan—and the world—to fold cranes as a symbol of hope, healing, and resilience. Today, visitors to Hiroshima’s Peace Park still leave paper cranes to honor Sadako and share a wish for peace.
Origami spread widely during the Edo period, when paper became more common. Children learned patience and careful hands, and adults created delicate shapes that were both beautiful and calming. Origami became more than decoration—it was a way to focus and enjoy the moment.
Even today, origami is still popular in Japan. It’s simple, elegant, and surprisingly relaxing. Feeling stressed before a meeting? Fold a crane. Want a small win during a busy day? Fold a crane. Or think of Sadako, and fold a crane as a reminder that hope and creativity can grow even from the smallest beginnings.
Origami shows us that even a simple sheet of paper can become something amazing—and maybe even help you survive a tough day with a little more calm, patience, and inspiration.
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Kotonoha Book - Dive deeper into Japan
Kotonoha is Orizuru’s volume-by-volume guide to the true history and powerful significance of Japan's core cultural events.
The Kotonoha series is perfect for anyone who wants to:
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Enhance their Japanese language studies.
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