Origami crane flew to Newtown, Connecticut on December. 6. 2013.
Last year yesterday (Dec 14th ) it was so shocking and terrible day for everyone. The world changed. I was speechless. I really wanted to do something for a young boys and girls, teachers ,stuffs and victims’ family. I was as if I lost my students and colleagues.
I started origami cranes for each family and more and more people joined my project. young and old, men and women, students from kindergarten to college. My former students and colleagues, friends, my family, from friends to friends,many people shared my wish to relieve the pain that the families have to relieve and pray for the heroes and heroines. In May I already had over 30000 origami cranes and in the end of September it was over 48000 cranes. My room was filed with origami crane treasures; my pastor called them treasure because each crane was made with genuine concern and wish.
I had written a letter first and then contacted via e mail. I had waited for the reply from Newtown that would allow me to bring origami cranes. While exchanging emails, I could realize that I couldn’t imaging how deeply they were hurt and all the town as well. To go, stand on the soil of Newtown and pray became my another wish and mission.
Finally I could go to Newtown on December 6 and handed some cranes to the middle school and the rest to the organization which will handed the cranes to the families and town for us. Also I could pray with my pastor and friends for the victims and families near the school.
Thanks to Elizabeth and Roseann I had an opportunities to share Japanese culture at the event Breakfast with Santa on Dec. 7 . It was a wonderful meeting with young children and adults of the town. I would love to experience something new and different. Especially I would like them to experience of calmness from tea ceremony. Offering Japanese culture experience was all I could do. The town was quiet and beautiful. I sensed sorrow and strength in the town. I cannot forget that a lady said ” We are hurt but we must move forward.” I will never forget our heroes and heroines. They will live in our hearts forever.I would like to come back to the town. “We are with you!”