Seventy years after the end of World War II, the Sadako Legacy organization will donate one of Sadako Sasaki’s original origami cranes to the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum on December 19, 2015.

Diagnosed with leukemia due to radiation exposure from the 1945 atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Sadako Sasaki (left) began folding paper cranes in her hospital bed. According to a Japanese legend, if a person folds 1,000 paper cranes, that person is granted one wish. Although she died in 1955, her cranes have come to symbolize world peace and reconciliation.

The program will feature remarks by President Truman’s grandson, Clifton Truman Daniel, and Sadako’s brother, Masahiro Sasaki. Sadako’s nephew, Yuji Sasaki, will perform the original song Inori (Prayer). Composed by Yuji, Inori has been performed in concerts across Japan and includes Sadako Sasaki’s final words: The time has come for me to leave, so I want to tell you at last: Thank you so much, I was always so happy.

This historic event at the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum will be taped by major media outlets from Japan as well as C-SPAN’s American HIstory TV.

The 6 p.m. program is free and open to the public and includes a pre-event wine reception. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m.; seating is on a first-come basis.

Media Contact:

Susan Medler, Truman Library Institute
816.268.8245 | susanmedler@gmail.com