せんばづる

Thematic Links

Hiroshima Genbaku(A-bomb) Day (August 6)
Sadako and the 1000 Paper Cranes (story)
Counting (to 1000)

Story Overview

A child, saddened by war, decides to make 1000 paper cranes to send to Hiroshima. As she makes them, she gives her thoughts on the war, and the story of Sadako.

Cultural Notes

Genbaku (A-bomb)		is the abbreviated name for "Genshi-bakudan" (Atomic bomb). The first A-bomb was dropped on Hiroshima 6th and the second on Nagasaki 9th August 1945 by U.S.A. See also こども　へいわ　かいぎ.
Sadako		Sadako Sasaki was 2 when the A-bomb was dropped on Hiroshima during WW2. When she was 10, she developed leukemia and was eventually hospitalised. Another child, who was with Sadako in hospital, told her that if she made 1000 paper cranes her wish to get well would be granted. Sadako died before she finished the cranes, but her school friends completed them for her and went on to raise funds for a memorial to be erected in her memory, and the memory of all who had died as a result of war. The memorial statue is located in Hiroshima Peace Park.
Cranes (tsuru)		are symbolic in Japan of peace and long life. Folded paper cranes are given to ill people as a wish for a quick recovery. Because cranes mate for life, they are also used in wedding ceremonies (embroidered on wedding kimonos etc) as they are thought to ensure a long marriage.

Web Links

http://www.japaneseweddingfavors.com/cranes.htm
Information on various animals (and other items) which hold symbolic meaning in Japan.
http://www.focusonnature.com/CranesinJapanPhotoFeature.htm
Features many photos of cranes, and descriptions of the different crane species.
http://www.origami-club.com
Go to this site to find むかしからのおりがみ on the left on the top page. Click on this to go to a page where you can learn how to make つる (cranes).
http://www.city.hiroshima.jp/e/index-E.html
A range of information about the history of Hiroshima, the A-bomb, the Peace Museum etc. Also contains current information about Hiroshima city, and a Kid's Page.
http://www.pcf.city.hiroshima.jp/kids/KPSH_E/top_e.html
See animation of "Sadako story 21".
http://www.sadako.org/
Further information about Sadako.

Language Concepts

counting (using ~wa, counter for birds)
past tense (verbs)

Characters

School student
*NB. The original skit was performed by one child, however this skit could be shared by many children, all making cranes together.

Making cranes

		(A child sits on the floor, surrounded by origami paper and cranes. A box, containing premade cranes, is behind her - as the skit progresses she takes the cranes from the box and places them in front of her.)

がくせい		せんそうは　かなしいです。わたしは　へいわを　ねがっています。

		一(いち)わ、ニ(に)わ、三(さん)わ、四(よん)わ、五(ご)わ。

		わたしは　せんばづるを　つくりたいです。

		六(ろく)わ、七(なな)わ、八(はち)わ、九(きゅう)わ、十(じゅう)わ。

		わたしは　おりづるが　だいすきです。

		三十(さんじゅう)わ、四十(よんじゅう)わ、五十(ごじゅう)わ、六十(ろくじゅう)わ、七十(ななじゅう)わ、八十(はちじゅう)わ。

		おりづるは　きれいですね。あお、みどり、あか、オレンジ、きいろ、きんいろ …

		百(ひゃく)わ、百十(ひゃくじゅう)わ、百二十(ひゃくにじゅう)わ、百三十(ひゃくさんじゅう)わ、百四十(ひゃくよんじゅう)わ、百五十(ひゃくごじゅう)わ。

		さだこちゃんは　おりづるを　つくりました。さだこちゃんは　せんそうで　しにました。　ともだちが　せんばづるを　つくりました。

		百六十(ひゃくろくじゅう)わ、百七十(ひゃくななじゅう)わ、百八十(ひゃくはちじゅう)わ、百九十(ひゃくきゅうじゅう)わ、二百(にひゃく)わ。

		さだこちゃんは　ひろしまに　すんで　いました。


		三百(さんびゃく)わ、三百五十(さんびゃくごじゅう)わ、四百(よんひゃく)わ。

		さだこちゃんは　十二(じゅうに)さいでした。

		五百(ごひゃく)わ、五百五十(ごひゃくごじゅう)わ、六百(ろっぴゃく)わ。

		わたしは　ほんものの　つるも　だいすきです。

		七百(ななひゃく)わ、八百(はっぴゃく)わ、九百(きゅうひゃく)わ、千(せん)わ。


		やっと　できました。　せかいが　へいわに　なりますように。