The people of Hiroshima have developed many activities in which they dedicate their lives to peace. The most important events are the two ceremonies Hiroshima celebrate as a reminder of their history. Hiroshima has a two very important ceremonies. One is the special ceremony in which a group of children gather together. They belong to the Folded Crane Club. Many club members are friends of Sadako Sasaki. She died of leukemia at age 12 after being exposed to the atomic bomb in 1945 when she was only a baby.

Every year, on May 5^th, Children’s Day, the Folded Crane Club gathers together and travels to the monument they raised money for. It is a monument to Sadako Sasaki, in which she stands with a big golden crane above her. The Folded Crane Club carries out pictures framed in black ribbon of children who died in the atomic bomb. They place them under the memorial of Sadako, along with a new chain of one thousand paper cranes. Countries nationwide send these cranes to Hiroshima for this and other ceremonies.

The man who holds this club together is Mr. Ichiro Kawamoto. He is over 70 years old, and dedicates every day of his life to the atomic bomb victims. Along with the children from the Folded Crane Club, he cleans the monument of Sadako Sasaki that they built.　　

Another ceremony is named the Peace Memorial Ceremony. This event is held in front of the Cenotaph for A-bomb Victims. First, the mayor rises to recite the Peace Declaration. Then, at exactly 8:15 A.M., when the atomic bomb, Little Boy, exploded over Hiroshima so many years ago, the Peace Bell is rung. People all around Hiroshima stop their work and have a full minute of silence. They pray for the victims of the atomic bomb, Little Boy. They pray for all the people who are still suffering from leukemia today. They think of family members and friends who passed away during the bomb, whether from radiation sickness, leukemia or from the blast of the bomb. Most of all, they pray for world peace, and the safety of everyone in Hiroshima, in Japan, and in the world.

This is a photo of the Peace Ceremony described above.
Taken with permission 
from Hiroshima A-Bomb
Photo Museum

Please click on the crane to take a quiz on the Peace memorials. . When you have finished the quiz, click the back button on your browser.

To read about the peace efforts on our site, click the cranes.