After the Peace Memorial Ceremony ended, shiny gold-colored paper cranes accumulated one after another in the Ceremony headquarters. With grief for the atomic bomb victims, hopes for the abolition of nuclear weapons, and other emotions, each person folded one paper crane. For the first time, Hiroshima City had asked those in attendance to write messages of peace transcending generation and nationality.

The origami paper was gold-colored on one side and 7.5 centimeters on each side. One piece was handed out with each of the roughly 20,000 printed ceremony programs. Participants used the time they awaited the start of the ceremony or other times to make their cranes, carefully arranging each fold. Visitors from other countries as well attempted to fold the cranes, scrutinizing the directions that had been handed out.

Mutsuko Nakamura (72), a housewife from Chuo-ku, Tokyo, said, "I folded my crane remembering the past. I hope they do this every year from now on." A company employee from Kobe City, said, "I folded my hopes for peace into it. Because I experienced the Kobe Earthquake, I'm keenly aware of the importance of inheriting such experiences in various ways."

The gathered paper cranes will be offered to the Children's Peace Monument or be strung into "leis" and given to participants at the World Conference of Mayors for Peace through Inter-city Solidarity so that they will take them back to their own countries.

(caption) Persons folding hopes for peace into paper cranes at the ceremony