Sadako Sasaki and her thousands of paper cranes

Narrator: Hope is the companion of power and the mother of success fro who so hopes
strongly has within him the gift of miracles.
Good afternoon everyone, my name is Drishti Tomar and I am the narrator for today’s play.
We the students of Tagore house are going to present before you a Japanese chronicle
about a girl named Sadako Sasaki.
This is the story of hope, desire and willingness to live your life to the fullest.
Let me make you familiar with the characters for today’s play.
Zoya as Sadako
Nishi as Kieko and Nidhi as Sakura – friends of Sadako
Sharanya as mother of Sadako
Ruyaan as doctor
Manish, Amandeep, Prutha, Supriya, Arpita as common finds of Kieko, Sadako and Sakura.
As I mentioned before, myself as narrator

Sadako: My name is Sadako. I was born in Japan in 1943. When I was 2 years old, my mother
held me in her arms, she sang a song to me. It was a quiet summer morning inside a small
house as my mother was preparing tea for me.
Suddenly a tremendous possibly cut across the sky.
(Bomb audio)
This might be a bit tricky to understand for all of you. So let me take you through the
journey of my life.
Narrator: It’s a hot afternoon. Sadako and her friends are playing football.
Sakura: come on Kieko, it’s your goal. You can do it, come on.
Keiko and Sakura: (together) hurray! We made it
Narrator: (Sadako suddenly faints)
Kieko: Sakura look Sadako fainted
Narrator: (both of them run towards Sadako)
Keiko and Sakura: What happened to Sadako? Call the ambulance
Narrator: Sadako’s friends take her to the hospital.
(Everyone exit’s, audio of ambulance)
Doctor: I am sorry to say bit Sadako has been exposed to harmful radiations.
Mother: but, that a ten years ago!
Doctor: it sounds cruel, but it doesn’t matter. Sadako has been diagnosed by leukemia.
Radiation is like life, but it can penetrate everyone and everything that is near it. Once
you’re exposed to it, health deteriorates and that individual eventually dies.
Narrator: Sadako’s mother sadly leaves for home. Next day, Kieko visits Sadako at the
hospital.
Kieko: Konnichiwa Sadako, how are you feeling now?
Sadako: Konnichiwa Kieko, I am better now.
Kieko: I have something interesting for you to do.
Sadako: What is it?
Kieko: Do you know about the life span of Cranes?
Narrator: Sadako thinks over it.
Kieko: Ok let me tell you, according to the ancient mythology, it is believed that cranes live
approximately more than thousands of years. And it is said by the people that whoever folds
thousands of paper cranes, his or her life span expands.
Sadako: Wow that’s amazing! That means I can overcome my disease and my life will be
saved.
Narrator: Kieko leaves from the hospital to meet her friends and to give then update about
Sadako’s health.

Sakura: Kieko, how is Sadako now ?

Kieko: Her health is worsening. I tried to build up her hope but now everything is in Kami’s
hands (zen-no-banzai)
The next day Sadako starts making paper cranes.
Days pass on, her health keeps deteriorating. But she doesn’t give up and continues making
origami cranes.
After 6 months she completes almost 365 paper cranes, but her fate doesn’t support her
and she gives up.
The other day Sadako’s friends go to the hospital to meet her.
Friend’s: Sadako! Sadako! Where are you?
Doctor: stop shouting! It’s a hospital.
Sakura: I am really sorry but where is Sadako?
Doctor: I am sorry, she is no more.
Together: There’s so much left unspoken
too soon for our conversation to end
I thought we had so many more years,
And so much more time to spend
But it’s too late death has stolen you away
And there’s nothing left I can do
So I will have to be patient until the day comes,
When I can talk again with you

Narrator: Silently Sadako kicked the bucket on 25th October 1955. Her family and her friends
buried her with 365 origami cranes. Sadako always dreamt of building a monument which is
named after her and her friends made her dream come true.
At present the monument is located at Hiroshima, Japan and it is called as children peace
monument. It was built to commemorate Sadako and the thousands of other innocent
children who dies due to the atomic bombing in Hiroshima. Her friends also started a
campaign for donation of people suffering from leukemia.
Sadako: and this was my story
All together: Peace we achieve
When we do not accept anything from the world
And only give, give and give unconditionally
What we have and what we are

Narrator: so my dear friends, live your life with your head held high because not everyone is
fortunate to enjoy and achieve their goals.