Sadako Sasaki

Sadako Sasaki was a young Japanese girl who became a symbol of peace after developing leukemia from radiation exposure caused by the atomic bombing of Hiroshima in 1945. She is famous for her attempt to fold 1,000 paper cranes, inspired by a Japanese legend that doing so grants a wish or promotes health. Although she died at age 12, her story inspired global efforts for anti-nuclear awareness and nuclear disarmament. The paper cranes she folded are now a universal symbol of hope and peace, with a memorial in Hiroshima dedicated to her and all victims of nuclear warfare.