Sadako Sasaki was exposed to the A-bomb at the age of two but escaped without apparent injury. She grew into a strong and healthy girl. Ten years later, in the fall of her sixth year in elementary school, she suddenly contracted leukemia and was hospitalized in February the following year. Believing the old adage that folding a thousand paper cranes would make a wish come true, Sadako tried steadfastly to recover from her illness by folding paper cranes. Her wish was in vain. After her death, a monument was built for peace and to console the souls of Sadako and all the other children perished due to the A-bomb. Today, the paper crane as a symbol of peace has spread round the world with the story of Sadako.