School pupils donate 1,000 paper cranes to University exhibition on bombing of Nagasaki and Hiroshima

Students from Lossiemouth High School have created 1,000 paper cranes that will be displayed at a powerful exhibition hosted by the University of Stirling.

The University is hosting Remembered: 80 years since the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki — an exhibition curated by The Nagasaki National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims.

It is the first time that the showcase has gone on display in the UK.

The exhibition aims to provide visitors with an in-depth understanding of the impact of the bombings of Nagasaki and Hiroshima, supporting the Peace Hall’s international efforts to work towards a genuine, lasting peace in a nuclear weapon-free world.

Paper cranes have been used as a symbol of peace stemming from the story of Sadako Sasaki, a young girl who developed leukaemia after the Hiroshima bombing, who made 1,000 prior to her death at the age of just 12 in 1955.

A powerful symbol

In Japanese culture, paper cranes are a symbol of luck, longevity, and hope, associated with the legend of folding 1,000 cranes to be granted a wish. The tradition of folding 1,000 cranes is known as senbazuru.

Each year approximately 10 million cranes are donated to the Children's Peace Monument that stands in Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima.

And pupils at Lossiemouth High School in Moray made their own donation by sending 1,000 handmade cranes to the University — which are now on display alongside the exhibition.

Sarah Bromage, Head of Collections at the University of Stirling, said: “We are delighted to receive this wonderful gift from Lossiemouth High and to have the opportunity to display the senbazuru in the exhibition space.

“This represents many hours of hard work by the pupils and we are very grateful for their support for the exhibition here and its message of peace.”

Pride

Fionna Shearer, Principal Teacher of Art & Design at Lossiemouth High School, added: “I have shared my interests in Japanese arts and culture with pupils since visiting Japan in 2008.

“More recently, when we became a Rights Respecting School, I taught peace education through origami peace cranes linking children's rights and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 16 Peace and Social Justice.

“This led to our school community sending 1,000 peace cranes to the Children's Peace Monument in Hiroshima in 2022.

“Since then, it has always been my wish to fold 1,000 peace cranes for Nagasaki on behalf of our school community. I am extremely proud of the five pupils who folded these cranes. They showed determination, perseverance and self-reliance completing the folding by themselves during the last eight weeks.

“A special mention goes to one of our students, Stella McPherson, who folded over 300 cranes by herself.”

The exhibition was officially opened by Japanese Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Hiroshi Suzuki, earlier this month.

Moray Council Leader and Chair of the Education, Children’s and Leisure Services Committee, Councillor Kathleen Robertson, said: “It’s truly inspiring to see the pupils of Lossiemouth High School contribute to this important exhibition. Their dedication to creating 1,000 paper cranes is a powerful gesture of peace, and it’s a privilege to be part of this meaningful project.

Commitment to peace

"This initiative not only highlights the history of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings but also brings a message of hope and reconciliation that resonates deeply with people across the world. We’re proud of the pupils, their teachers, and the wider school community for their commitment to promoting peace, and we commend their efforts in helping to share this important story.”

The exhibition is accompanied by a programme of public events, including a talk from survivor Mr Seiichiro Mise, who was 10 years old at the time of the atomic bombing.

Remembered: 80 years since the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki runs until 14 November 2025 at Campus Central, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA.