Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes

On Sadako’s first full day in the hospital, a nurse gives Sadako a shot, and the girl wishes for “the sickness to be over with [...] so [she] can go home” (35). Chizuko visits her best friend that afternoon and brings her paper and scissors. According to a Japanese legend, the gods will heal a sick person who folds 1,000 paper cranes. Chizuko reminds Sadako of this story and makes the first crane for her out of golden paper. Sadako is moved by the gesture, especially because she knows her friend doesn’t share her belief in good luck charms. After folding 10 paper cranes with Chizuko’s guidance, Sadako feels hopeful that she’ll soon receive her wish and be strong enough to go home.

Later that afternoon, Masahiro brings his sister her homework and promises to hang every crane Sadako folds from the ceiling of her hospital room. That evening, Mrs. Sasaki and Sadako’s younger siblings visit her and admire the beautiful paper birds. After her relatives leave, a lonely Sadako keeps her courage up by folding more cranes.