Chapter 3
Spotlight on Japan

Performance Objectives
Students will be able to:

• show how the bombing of Hiroshima affected the end of WW2
• describe the bombing of Hiroshima from the point of view of a young Japanese woman
• explain and discuss the reasons for the creation of a memorial park

Teacher Background
Sadako Sasaki died in 1955 several years after the attack of a radiation related illness caused by the bombing.

Sadako was not able to fold all one thousand paper cranes in accordance with the old story. However, her classmates folded 356 cranes so that one thousand were buried with Sadako. In a way she got her wish. A book was published in Sadako's memory. Young people throughout Japan helped collect money to build a monument in Hiroshima Peace Park to her and all children who were killed by the atom bomb.

A folded crane club was organized in her honor. Members still place thousands of paper cranes beneath Sadako's statue on August 6th, Peace Day in Japan.

Procedures:
Brief student report on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Ask students who have prepared reports on Hiroshima and Nagasaki to explain the events to the class. Otherwise, teacher might ask if any students know what happened in these two cities in 1945.

Read Worksheet: Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes. In your own words, briefly summarize the point of view in this selection. List responses on board.

• What are the dangers of radiation?
• What is the legend of the cranes?
• In what way did Sadako get her wish to live forever?

Ask students to brainstorm the following question. List responses on board.

When you hear the word 'park', what images come to your mind?

• If you saw the remains of a bombed-out building in a park along with all the images you've described would the two visions of a park blend together? (If possible, show slides included in this guide)
• What purpose is served by keeping the ruin in a beautiful park?
• How do these bombed-out images make you feel

As part of the Hiroshima Peace Park, there is a museum about the bombing of Hiroshima and the events that devastated the city and its people. Show picture or slide of Hiroshima Peace Park.

• Can you think of other examples of museums and/or monuments which commemorate sad events? List and discuss.
• What is the value of a museum created to remember a tragic period like this?
• Why do we say people "must remember?"

Writing Assignment
The statue in the Hiroshima Peace Park has a plaque. Engraved on this plaque are the following words:

This is our cry
This is our prayer,
Peace in the world.

• What words could you add to this short cry for peace?
• What would you like to add to remind people about the folly of war?
• Write a 2-3 paragraph essay to express your feelings.