Sadako Sasaki was two when an atomic bomb was dropped on her home town, Hiroshima.
At the age of 12, she was hospitalised with leukemia.
Despite being gravely ill, Sadako managed to fold 1,000 paper cranes, hoping that an ancient Japanese legend was true – that this would grant her wish to be healthy again.
But Sadako passed away within months, unable to make another 1,000 cranes.
Her story has become a global symbol of peace, and a reminder of the human tragedy and unimagineable suffering that today’s nuclear weapons threaten.
Never Again appeal
Survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombings have helped drive the movement against nuclear weapons for over 70 years. Please donate to our appeal to make sure the stories of the Hibakusha continue to be told and strengthen our campaign to prevent another Hiroshima or Nagasaki.
Hibakusha
“We are the survivors of the nuclear bombs that hit our home cities”
