Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes

Paper cranes serve as a motif for the theme of Hope and Perseverance. In Chapter 5, “The Golden Crane,” Chizuko visits Sadako in the hospital, teaches her how to fold origami birds, and tells her a legend about paper cranes. According to the legend, the gods will grant a wish to anyone who folds 1,000 cranes. This traditional story gives Sadako hope that she can make a miraculous recovery. Out of the hundreds of paper birds in the novel, the golden crane is special because it’s Sadako’s first crane and a present from her best friend. Throughout the story, this gift offers Sadako comfort and strength. She keeps it on her bedside table in the hospital because its proximity makes her feel “safe and lucky” (207), and she repeatedly voices her wish to recover to the paper bird. Sadako even brings the golden crane when she visits her family for O Bon. In her final moments, touching the golden crane makes Sadako “feel stronger inside” (63). The golden crane gives Sadako hope throughout her struggle with leukemia.

In addition, Sadako’s mission to fold 1,000 paper cranes gives the people around her the strength to persevere.