I still remember how shocked and sad I was to know the news in the evening. It cannot have happened at school. I had never felt that sorrow.
8th Anniversary of Sandy Hook Elementary Shooting.
This tragedy happened in this country where I was living not a foreign country. It was my 2nd Christmas time since I immigrated in December 2010 from Japan. I wanted to do something for the victims. I could not pretend.
That was the start of my Origami Project. This year, I signed Sandy Hook Promise with donations and made 26 origami cranes, thinking of their lives and families’ feelings. That day was when their doom changed must be sorrowful and painful. It must be so long and gloomy.
I started to make an origami crane, first, at least 26. Then I decided to make one thousand. The Origami Crane is used as an expression of wishes, hopes, and peace. I often make for friendship and gratitude because origami crane is a Japanese tradition and it is beautiful. I asked a friend of mine to make an origami crane, one from a friend. Then I remember that there must be more people who want to do something for the victims and their families.
I asked my friend in Japan because at that time I had no idea to tell Americans to join the origami project. The prayers in form of origami cranes reached 48000. That many people shared prayers. I brought origami cranes to Newtown just before 1st anniversary came in 2013.