On 6 and 9 August 1945, the United States detonated two atomic bombs over the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki respectively. The bombings killed between 129,000 and 226,000 people, most of whom were civilians, and remain the only use of nuclear weapons in an armed conflict. Japan surrendered to the Allies on 15 August, six days after the bombing of Nagasaki . This was the end of World War 2.

August 6th is "A-Bomb Day" - the day that Hiroshima changed forever. Every year it is commemorated with Hiroshima Peace Day, a day to remember the victims, and promote "peace politics" throughout the world.  

Sadako Sasaki and the Thousand Paper Cranes

Sadako Sasaki was two years old when the atomic bomb was dropped on her home town of Hiroshima. Ten years later, in 1955, she became sick and was diagnosed with leukaemia, a disease strongly associated with radiation sickness.

Sadako and her friend, Chizuko, began to make paper cranes, hoping that the Japanese belief that anyone who folds 1,000 cranes would have their wish granted. She was able to make 644 cranes before she died.

Sadako’s story has become an important symbol for peace. Every year, thousands of children send paper cranes to Hiroshima and Sadako’s memorial site. These cranes are an expression of a gentle hope that people can work together for kindness and justice in our world.