To live without Hope is to Cease to live. – Fyodor Dostoevsky
Patti, coming back from Japan, this theme could not have come at a better time for me. Because, when I was 7 years old, I read a book titled: Sadako vill leva. The great impression has lasted throughout the years, and coming to Hiroshima to see her, her family and the story unfold in real photographs was overwhelming. Strong feelings and many tears.
The Day of the Bomb – in Swedish Sadako vill leva (Sadako will Live) .
Seeing her own folded cranes set my tears run free…so much hope and effort put into each and every one of those beautiful cranes.
In the Peace Park, Sadako meets us with thousands and thousands of cranes, folded by children from all over the world. In Sweden we still send cranes from school children when they have read her story. They all want to help her reach her goal – and LIVE.
They say Sadako was hopeful every day and believed she would complete her 1000 cranes – and Live. When her strength was weakened, she folded the cranes with needles instead of her hands, and they were so tiny that you could barely hold them.
Here she is, standing on the monument, holding up a crane to touch the sky. And there is a bell inside the monument that every child wants to let chime.
Her story is only one of tens of thousands from that day, but it tells us something about being hopeful and never giving up – having something to work for and to focus on, and something to believe in too. They say hope is the last thing that leaves you…
I will finish with the Phoenix Trees that stood in the courtyard of the Hiroshima Post and Telecommunications Bureau. The courtyard was about 1.3 kilometers from the hypocenter. Because no intervening object stood in the direction of the hypocenter, they took the full force of the heat ray and blast, losing all of their branches and leaves. The sides of the trunks toward the hypocenter was burned and hollowed out.
Although the trees appeared to be dead, their branches put out buds the following spring. Seeing this new life, people took courage and hope. I think we do too.
So now, it’s your turn. What makes you hopeful? Is it a place, a person, or a beautiful creation? Is it art, music, poetry? We’re looking forward to seeing your creative and inspiring posts. Be sure to link to Patti’s post and include the “lens-artists” tag.
Last week Tina’s challenge inspired you to share wonderful posts of children and young animals– even some of your own. A special thanks to Tina! And what’s up for next week? I, Ann-Christine, will lead, so be sure to stop by Leya next Saturday at noon EDT.
Wishing you a week of sunshine, hope, and inspiration.
Looking for more information on joining our challenge? Click here.
Leya 
It’s such a sad story. I’m glad visitors will find hope from the cranes she created. I would have teared up upon seeing them as well.
♥ She was a brave girl and the world will remember her.
I am surrounded by so many things that give me hope. I need only remember to focus upon them. Mainly, stories and shares, like this one, from folks like you.
Fully aware of the decades (nearly a century?) of fall out from that time in history, I had never heard this story, of one person, one hope, one tradition, lore, and reality of how life plays out and how, one person will walk forth in hope, over and over, even if, in the end, their wish is not granted as they hoped it to be so.
Thank you for all the places, people, stories, traditions and ways of being, you share. You broaden my horizons over and over!
Now, I thank you very much for a beautiful comment – I am humbled.
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What a beautiful memorial to Sadako Sasaki.
Thank you – and she is worthy of it.
hat a powerful post reflecting so much hope in the tragedy that befell the residents of two major cities by terrible coincidence of their homes.
Thanks for sharing Sadako’s story.
Glad you enjoyed it, John. Sadako’s story is read by every child in my country.
Love it, Ann-Christine. There’s something very calming about folding the cranes, I’ve done it too, not sure how long it took me, but it was a labour of love as I think is the case for everyone that does it. Perfect post.
Thank you, Sofia! Yes, there was a time when we folded papers following the descriptions of my origami book – and cranes are still favourites with my daughter. (As you say, it is very calming to focus on the folding and the beautiful things that come out of it. ) Whenever she went by train, she used to fold one from the paper ticket and leave it on the table. But now there are no paper tickets anymore…
What a lovely story, Ann-Christine, thank you.
♥
An excellent post, Ann-Christine.
Thank you, Rupali
Ann-Christine, an incredibly powerful response to Patti’s challenge. It’s a wonderful message and a powerful lesson. If only we have learned from it. I’d not heard that story before, thank you for sharing it here.
Sadako’s story is an inspirational one. I wish she’d been the last child to be killed or affected by war.
Dear Ann-Christine,
thanks for your post about Hiroschima. We heard about Sadako’s paper cranes before and Siri and Selma immediately tried to fold some paper cranes as well.
All the best
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
AC, such a moving post. Tears were forming in my eyes as I read. Thank you for sharing it.
A moving post, AC. Yes, I am sure there are lots of tears when you walk through the grounds there. I would be one. It is heart wrenching and hopeful to think of Sadako, and the 1000s of others. And she does live on in the children who send cranes from all over the world. She has had an enormous impact on the world, hasn’t she? It is as you say, hope is the last thing that leaves you. This reminds me of the story of Anne Frank too. Such wisdom for such young minds. Absolutely beautiful post.
Oh, this is the perfect story to tell this week! Sadako’s faith in the cranes is a wonderful example of hope, as is the devotion of children from around the world to keep up her work. I found the whole of the Peace Park a surprisingly positive experience because of the emphasis put on hopes for a more peaceful world in the future.
💚
I absolutely love your post, AC. It’s touching, sad, heartwarming, and hopeful all at the same time! I had heard of Sadako but didn’t remember her name. Thank you for this post–reminding me of the power of hope which springs from unlikely places (like Hiroshima) and endures.
What an incredibly moving post, Ann-Christine, and so beautifully told and illustrated.
Touching and sad, but we have hope
I’m happy that you see hope in the city of Hiroshima. The lively city itself is a symbol of hope.
Can retrace my memories of visit to Hiroshima. Once there you are back in time waiting for bombs to fall any minute
Makes my heart heavy. This is not a story we were taught in the US. Moving post.
One of the most memorable places I’ve been. Your photos evoke memories.
I took the same message as you did, hope rather than despair.
What a powerful, sad, and yet sweet story Ann-Christine. It reminds me of the Anne Frank story. Both were children and both suffered from war. When will adults learn?
This is both beautiful and sad. It fills me with hope!
This is a very powerful post, Ann-Christine! There is a mobile of 1,000 paper cranes that hangs in the stairwell of my spiritual community home. The story has touched so many lives. But until now, I haven’t seen it at the origin. Thank you so much for sharing your images! I do believe that hope lives in communities who share their lives and stories and help each other to thrive.
What a touching story about Sadako, cranes, and hope. Thank you Ann-Christine.
You started with a Dostoyevsky’s quote. Your post was very impactful and so full of hope. The images were stunning and told precious stories. In light of adversity, you showed us hope. There was one phrase you used: ”being hopeful and never giving up.” That is the key, and your beautiful photos emphasize that clearly.
A-C, what a touching post, terrible yet hopeful. Perfection! ❤
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