Sadako Song Story

"When I read the Sadako Story, I felt very strongly moved. Sadako had courage and hope to live. Until the day she died, she folded the paper cranes with her little fingers. She folded with hope and courage. Many of her classmates felt strongly moved by it. Those children had a dream to carry on Sadako's dream. Their dream was to build a statue to honor Sadako. With their courage and determination, three years later, their dream came true.
I wanted to write this song, Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes, to have World Peace, to have a peace song sung by children in different languages so more people could relate to it. A song which would symbolize two nations that are in peace together and work together. I hope this song is carried by many, many children's voices all over the world and gives them hope to change this world to make it a better place.
I just wanted to be their stepping stone."

Sadako Peace Choir
1995

About the Sadako Song
written by Michiko I. Pumpian

The music was arranged by International arranger Mike McMullen with live woodwinds and strings to give a full and deep feeling to the sound. Lyrics start with a Japanese soloist leading into the American soloist. Then full choirs in both Japanese and English join in to integrate a sound and feeling that is both captivating and uplifting.

The children who have participated in singing the song have all become members of the Sadako Peace Club. They've also explored the story further by taking advantage of other Books, Tapes and Videos which are related to the story.

The song has been received extremely well in both Japan and the United States. Excellent reviews have been received from many newspapers, TV stations and reviewers in both the United States and Japan. Michiko and her choir were featured on the News on KIRO Channel 7 and KOMO Channel 5 in Seattle. In addition, Michiko was featured on the internationally broadcast, TODAY'S JAPAN while she and her choir members were in Hiroshima during the Summer of 1995 for the 50th Anniversary Commemoration Ceremony of the dropping of the Bomb on Hiroshima.
Michiko and her choir were invited there to the Hiroshima Peace Conference. Michiko's song, Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes, was the official song of the conference and she and her group led 10,000 children in singing the song.Future plans include the Educational use of the song in libraries and schools.

Click here for more information on how to get the tape and music.

Japanese verse 654KB

English Verse 704KB

Chorus 930KB

From Author and Composer - Michiko I. Pumpian