English Honors II
May 8, 2011
Part 1- What I already know
Japanese Traditions
1. What I Know
I once had a friend who liked in Japan for most of her life, she always reminisced about her life there and how it was so much better then America. I always wanted to find out why she thought Japan was so much better then America I wanted to experience it myself. She would go on for hours about the traditions and customs that happened with in Japan and how the traditions had been had been taking place for thousands of years in her family. For Example she said that the many people of Japan around a certain time of year would create 1,000 cranes for a wish they wish to have granted. The tradition of 1,000 cranes was said to grant the folder one wish.
This tradition came about again when my sister decided that she wanted to make 1,000 cranes for her wedding. She knew that the cranes were said to bring good luck and she wanted to experience good luck in her life long relationship with her fiancé. Ever since my sister brought up the tradition I’ve always thought about where the tradition came about and how so many people have come to believe that their wish will be true. I have a few friends who have experienced good luck with making the cranes, I know that a crane in Japan is said to bring good luck.
2. What I Want to Find Out
I chose why 1,000 cranes are lucky because I wanted to find out the history behind the tradition. Once the earthquake happened in Japan on March 11, 2011 I wanted to know what the people in Japan would do in their country to try and bring them good luck.
The main focus of what I would like to find out is what the symbol behind the tradition is, what does it stand for? When did the tradition start, what is the history behind it? Why do people feel this symbol of cranes will give them good luck? Have there been any successful stories behind the myth? How do cranes reflect good luck in any situation? I’m sure more questions will pop up as I go along with my research but these are the questions I would like to find the complete answer to as I’m working on my paper.
The viewpoints I would like to have for my interview is someone who has created the cranes and has a successful action through it, and a viewpoint of someone who doesn’t know much about 1,000 lucky cranes. That way I can compare and contrast the different viewpoints about the issue.
3. The Search
Book
Robert J. Lang wrote a book in 1988 called The Complete Book of Origami: Step by Step Instructions in Over 1,000 Diagrams to explain the history and creation of origami, published by Pan American and International. I found this book on Google books under the origami section. This book explains how to create many creatures and objects through origami. I am summarizing pages 1-3.
This section explains the history and creation of origami; introduces where the crane and origami came about. We mostly hear about basic animals being created in the states and not so much the hard complicated ones. The basic origami types here in the states are mostly a heart, boa, and a hat.
Most of the advantages of origami have happened within the last fifty years, but it is an old art; almost goes back to the invention of paper itself. The invention of paper making started in China and then moved throughout the rest of the world.
A crane is a Japanese symbol of good luck, and folding 1,000 of them is said to grant the folder one wish. The tradition became common knowledge when an 11 year old girl came down with leukemia after the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. She made a wish to get well and set out to make 1,000 cranes and died 365 cranes short of her goal. He classmates folded the rest and the rest were buried with her. (Page 1)
The designs or folds of the origami were pasted down from generation to generation very few designs were actually recorded or written down. There were a few designs written down, but only the simple folds or creations were lasted throughout the generations. In the most modern days most paper folding appeared throughout the western world or even the Spanish adopted many creations. America has adopted its own creations to the tradition many include the hat, boat, or even the fortune teller. (Page 1)
In the 1960’s two major origami societies were created The Friends of the Origami Center of America and British Origami Society. Both societies supply books, paper, and tools that publish newspapers containing items of interest about origami. (Page 2)
Article
“The Art of One Thousand Cranes” is an article written by Linda Tomoko Mihara. I found this article off of a web based search on one thousand cranes. The name of the web site is Origami Hara.
It is believed that you will have one special wish if you fold one thousand cranes. By the time you finish this task, your wish will then be granted. This tradition is called Sembazuru, or the folding of one thousand cranes.
In Japan a bride to be will fold one thousand cranes and wish for a long and happy marriage. The crane is not only a symbol of luck but it is said for it to live for one thousand years. The crane also mates for live, thus folding one thousand cranes insures good fortunate.
In the 1960’s Japanese- American’s in Hawaii started to create artwork with Sembazuru (one thousand cranes) for weddings; with one expectation 1,001 cranes were used. It is said that one extra crane beings extra luck and in Japan an odd number is considered lucky. The cranes were folded out of gold foil, and are arranged in the shape of a family crest. Then they were framed as artwork, and hung at the wedding reception of the couple, then is hung in the couple's new home for continued good luck. Folding 1,001 cranes was a way for many Japanese-Americans to celebrate their culture and acknowledge their ancestors.
The art of 1,000 cranes is tradition that continues today, not only with Japanese-Americans but with many other ethnic groups.
Interview
I interviewed two people to find out different view points for each question. Especially since not everyone has the same answers to the following questions. I interviewed Traci Ducusin and Kim Holland. I interviewed Traci Ducusin is 16 years old and a sophomore at Youngker High School, and she is an Honors student. She was born in Japan and has lived there for about 10 years of her life. She currently lives in Buckeye, AZ. We met in the Youngker High School library and had a formal interview on the traditions and cultures of Japan. Kim Holland is an English and Yoga teacher at Youngker High School. She taught in Japan for a while and is currently living in Buckeye, AZ.
The first interview is with Traci Ducusin
Devin: Have you ever created 1,000 cranes?
Traci: No.
Devin: Have you had success with the cranes?
Traci: No, because I have only made about 3 at a certain time, cranes don’t provide more of a wish they provide more hope.
Devin: Do cranes really bring good luck?
Traci: Like I said they don’t bring much luck they bring more hope.
Devin: Did you see them everywhere around Japan?
Traci: No. but some people decorated their Christmas trees with them or you would see them around school. But since I lived on a military base I didn’t really see very many cranes.
Devin: How are the 1,000 cranes displayed?
Traci: They are connected and hung by string.
Devin: What is the history behind crane making?
Traci: I don’t know.
Devin: Do you know how to make origami cranes?
Traci: Yes, I can make them slowly but they require being very precise.
Devin: Is the appearance of the cranes different in the United States from Japan?
Traci: I have never seen 1,000 cranes in the states, but cranes are displayed differently because of the different types of origami paper and since the Japanese make 1,000 of them they become very professional and quick at the task.
The second interview is with Kim Holland
Many questions were not asked since the questions did not relate to the person.
Devin: Do cranes really bring good luck?
Ms. Holland: Cranes represent peace and good will in the world
Devin: How are the 1,000 cranes displayed?
Ms. Holland: The cranes are thread together and hung from statues.
Devin: Is the appearance of cranes in Japan different from the United States?
Ms. Holland: Yes, in a way because of all the pretty origami paper, you can go to a 99 cent store in Japan and buy a package of origami paper.
4. What I Learned
I enjoyed researching my topic; I have learned many things about 1,000 lucky cranes that I did not know before I started researching my topic. I learned that 1,000 cranes not only bring good luck but they also bring hope and good fortune. I thought cranes were all over Japan to bring good luck to the people, but it actually turns out that the cranes are only around ground zero at Hiroshima. Every year the people of Japan decorate ground zero with millions of cranes to help protect them from another atomic bomb landing on their country.
The atomic bomb was dropped at 9 am, on a school in Hiroshima. Instead of rebuilding the ground after the blast, Japan decided to make the grounds a destiny valley or in other words a place to remember the lost ones of their community. A statue was built for the fallen 11 year old girl named Sadako Sasaki I memory of her and because she made the tradition known throughout the world to make 1,000 cranes to bring good luck and hope. I definitely loved working on this research paper and I would want to continue on knowing the knowledge of Japanese culture.
Bibliography
Lang, Robert. The Complete Book of Origami: STep by Step Instructons in over 1,000 Diagrams. 2nd. United States of America: Dover Productions, 1988. 1-3. Print.
Linda Tomoko Mihara, . "The Art of One Thousand Cranes." N.p., 2010. Web. 9 May 2011.
Traci Ducusin. Personal Interview. May 9, 2011
