Sadako Sasaki lived in Hiroshima and was just two years old when the city was destroyed by the atom bomb on August 6th 1945. She survived the bombing, but nine years later she contracted leukemia, caused by exposure to radiation from the atom bomb.
While in hospital she started folded paper cranes after hearing an old folk tale that promises that a wish shall be granted to those who fold a thousand paper cranes. It is said that Sadako folded over a thousand cranes, but she succumbed to the disease and died at the age of twelve.
Some years later, Sadako’s nephew, Yuji Sasaki (born 1970) wrote a song, titled Inori (Prayer), to commemorate his aunt. It became a big hit in Japan in 2010 and Yuji sang the song at the commemorations of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima in 2010, as you can see in the video, below.
Yuji explains that when he was a child living in Fukuoka he didn’t feel that the story of Sadako and the atom bombing had anything to do with him. However, his attitude changed when he moved to Tokyo his father, Sadako’s elder brother, visited and gave a lecture at a high school about Sadako. He was challenged by some of the high school students and teachers to compose a song about Sadako as he shared her DNA. That insight helped him to feel closer to Sadako, and he accepted the challenge and wrote the song. He explains,
Despite facing death, Sadako always showed a brave smile to her family. I tried putting myself in her place to compose the lyrics.
Source: Hiroshima Peace Media
Inori Translated Into English & Sung by Eric Martin
Yuji Sasaki’s song was translated and performed by Eric Martin, who fronts the hard rock/glam metal band Mr Big.
Inori (Prayer)
lyrics by
Eric Martin
Though she knew the end was near still she never gave up hope
In the power that she believed from the old stories told
Of a thousand paper cranes that were folded every day
They would give her wings to fly and live for ever more
All her family gather round, and held her tenderly
And took away the fear, for a while she was free
And secretly she cried to god above
To keep her safe at home where she belongs in the arms of love
Say a prayer, say a prayer save the souls that have gone
A memory, a memory lives on in everyone
Inori, inori, inori, for peace on earth
In the eyes of every child we find salvation
As she folded the colorful cranes tears start to fall
And she struggled deep inside to make sense of it all
When it seems like all is lost, dreams could come true
And that after every storm there’s a light that’s shining through
One courageous little girl calling out to us
So no one will forget all the innocent
There are lessons we can learn that she left behind
About a hopeful message she gave to the world to make a better place and time
Say a prayer, say a prayer for the souls that have gone
When you wake up to the morning and a new day has begun
Inori, inori, inori, for peace on earth
In our hearts a dedication to what tomorrow brings
There is sadness in the world on this very day
And the echo of her voice when the children play
There’s a change in the season when the flowers bloom
And after all is said and done we’re always thinking of you
Say a prayer, say a prayer, save the souls that have gone
A memory, a memory lives on in everyone
Inori, inori, inori, for peace on earth
In the eyes of every child we find salvation
Say goodbye, say goodbye say goodnight and go to sleep
There’s a spirit in the sky an eternal prayer for peace
Heaven’s wish, heaven’s wish, heaven’s wish a chance to live
In the heart of every one there is salvation
In the heart of every one there is salvation
