a community sponsored artwork 

by artist

Sean Olson

     An ancient Japanese legend promises that anyone who folds a thousand origami cranes will be granted a wish by a crane, such as long life or recovery from illness or injury. 

   The crane  in Japan is one of the mystical or holy creatures that is said to live for a thousand years. In Japan, it is commonly said that folding 1,000 paper origami cranes makes a person's wish come true.  Our wish is for the full and complete recovery of our Pacific neighbor, Japan.

    On March 11, 2011 northern Japan experienced a 9.0 earthquake and subsequent tsunami that devastated the area near our Sister City - Kitakami.  The Concord Ambassadors organized a vigil in Todos Santos Park with the dual goals of supporting the Japan earthquake relief effort and of folding 1,001 origami cranes, a symbol of hope for a full recovery.  We invited the Concord community to join us in these efforts.  

   They folded over 1,000 cranes that night and continued to fold cranes, producing more than 10,000 cranes over the next few weeks – some 
with personal messages of hope for the citizens 
of Japan.

   To commemorate our community’s support for the Japan relief effort, The Concord Ambassadors commissioned Oakland artist Sean Olson to create the sculpture you see above you.  The artwork will remain in place until the completion of the 40^th Anniversary celebrations of our Sister City relationship with Kitakami, Japan which will take place in early October, 2014. 

   The 10,000 Cranes for Japan will be featured as part of the welcoming ceremonies for the delegation of visitors from Kitakami that will join us to celebrate our 40^th anniversary. Its colorful statement of hope symbolizes the support the people of Concord offered the people of Japan during the early relief efforts for the devastating 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

   To find out how you can volunteer to be a Host 
Family please contact Mary Rae at 671-3495.