Story by Amy Turner, Staff writer

Photo by Kalea Anderson/ The News

For centuries, 1,000 paper cranes have been used in Asian culture to symbolize peace and good will.  

After seeing the impact of the Marshall County shooting earlier this year, Airi Yamamoto, Japanese Outreach Initiative Coordinator for Murray State, decided to take the opportunity of spreading kindness by getting students involved in a culture project.

Yamamoto worked with the community and the college for the past two years to promote awareness for Japanese culture and its various practices. She said enjoys working at Murray State because the town has very limited knowledge of Japanese culture and she would like to spread awareness.

“We usually fold 1,000 cranes when we pray for somebody,” Yamamoto said.  “I saw so many people here got very shocked and sad about the Marshall County shooting.”

According to The Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre’s Origami Crane Project website, cranes are believed to be mythical creatures with a 1,000 year lifespan. This belief leads most Asian cultures to see cranes as a symbol of good fortune and longevity. The cranes are usually arranged on 25 strings containing 40 cranes each. They are then presented as a gift.

The cranes will be delivered to Marshall County High School after the model is completed. All 1,000 cranes have to be folded and then put on string before being combined and delivered.

Nathan Hensley, senior from Johnson City, Tennessee, spent a day helping with this project. He said he got involved because he is a Japanese major and is involved in the club.

“It is just a fun way to get people involved and learn a little bit about Japanese culture,” Hensley said.

The project is being continued in the Curris Center on Wednesday, April 4 and Thursday April 12 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Students wishing to get involved can stop by and learn how to make the origami cranes and to continue making cranes.