I haven't counted, but there should be one thousand of the little guys in each bundle. Colorful, aren't they?
This is a #colourfulphotography submission in @juliank 's daily contest, or one of his many daily contests anyway. If you fancy yourself a good photographer, I recommend you submit something too.
I'm sure almost everyone reading this is familar with origami cranes, called tsuyu 鶴 (crane) or orizuyu 折鶴 (folded crane) in Japanese. Next to paper airplanes, cranes are probably the most common and popular paper fold in much of the world.
But are you familar with Senbazuru 千羽鶴—strings of one thousand cranes?
Senbazuru are considered good luck, making the popular gifts. The father of the bride often gives one to the happy couple. They are also common to see at temples and shrines.
In Japanese mythology, the crane is said to live for one thousand years, hence folding one thousand of them. An old story says that anyone who folds one thousand of them within a year and without help will be granted a wish.
This story was popularized by Sadako Sasaki, a young girl who developed leukemia due to the Hiroshima bomb, and who struggled in the last months of her life to fold as many as she could, wishing for her cancer to go away. There is a section of the Hiroshima peace park dedicated to her and the place is literally covered with senbazuru. So many in fact that the park routinely recycles them into sheets of notebook paper that it sells at the gift shop.
Folding one of these is a fun project. I've done one of them. If you set a goal of folding 3 a day, you'll make it. Anyone up for the challenge?
Don't miss the other great photos in the Beautiful Japan photo series!
#1–10 Beautiful Japan Collection
#11 - What a Blur
#12 - The Watcher at the Shrine
#13 - Giant Torii in Road
#14 - Resting Leaves
#15 - The Family that Drinks Together, Stays Together
#16 - Fire in the Sky
#17 - The Streets of Takayama
#18 - Red Path
#19 - Fading Japan
#20 - Relaxing at the River
#21 - Tradiional Japanese Gate and Garden
#22 - Daruma-san Korokoro
#23 - Weeping Temple
#24 - Ready for Liftoff
#25 - Pounding the Taiko Drum
Thank you for reading. :)
If you enjoyed this post, please like and resteem. Also be sure to follow me to see more from Japan everyday.
I post one photo everyday, as well as some misc posts such as haiku, videos, more Japanese history, and so on. Let me know if there is anything about Japan you would like to know more about or would like to see.
 | David LaSpina is an American photographer lost in Japan, trying to capture the beauty of this country one photo at a time. |