Cranes have long symbolized peace, good health, longevity, and healing in many Asian cultures. According to the Japanese tradition of senbazuru, anyone who folds 1,000 origami cranes will be granted their most desired wish.

This spring, people from across three continents joined Asia Society Texas Center in a community action to fold 1,000 origami cranes and contributed to our collective wish for hope, health, and healing. We also partnered with the Japan–America Society of Houston and their Be Golden campaign to include origami cranes with food deliveries to people in need, with the help of CrowdSource Rescue Volunteers.

We thank everyone who participated, and invite you to enjoy a highlights video showing this project!

How to Fold an Origami Paper Crane

While our community project is complete, we encourage you to learn how to fold your own paper crane!

1. Find a square piece of paper. The Japanese tradition is to use colorful origami paper, but any kind of paper will work! Color a piece of printer paper, find leftover wrapping paper, use a magazine page — get creative! Alternatively, print out origami patterns on your own.
2. Fold the crane. You can follow along with our Japan Outreach Initiative coordinator Nina Shimaguchi in the below video as she demonstrates how to make an origami crane. Or, view PDF instructions by origami-fun.com.
3. Share a photo of you with your crane on social media, with your wish and #1000CranesForHope.

Business and Policy programs are endowed by Huffington Foundation. We give special thanks to Bank of America, Muffet Blake, Anne and Albert Chao, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, Nancy Pollok Guinee, United Airlines, and Wells Fargo, Presenting Sponsors of Business and Policy programs; Nancy C. Allen, Chinhui Juhn and Eddie Allen, and Leslie and Brad Bucher, Presenting Sponsors of Exhibitions; Dr. Ellen R. Gritz and Milton D. Rosenau and Wells Fargo, Presenting Sponsors of Performing Arts and Culture; and Mitsubishi Corporation (Americas), Presenting Sponsor of the Japan Series. General support of programs and exhibitions is provided by The Brown Foundation, Inc., The Hearts Foundation, Inc., Houston Endowment, Inc., the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance, McKinsey & Company, Inc., National Endowment for the Arts, Texas Commission on the Arts, Vinson & Elkins LLP, and Mary Lawrence Porter, as well as Friends of Asia Society.

About Asia Society at Home

Though Asia Society is temporarily closed, we are dedicated to continuing our mission of building cross-cultural understanding and uplifting human connectivity. Using digital tools, we bring you content for all ages and conversations that matter, in order to spark curiosity about Asia and to foster empathy.

About Asia Society Texas Center

With 13 locations throughout the world, Asia Society is the leading educational organization promoting mutual understanding and strengthening partnerships among the peoples, leaders, and institutions of Asia and West. Asia Society Texas Center executes the global mission with a local focus, enriching and engaging the vast diversity of Houston through innovative, relevant programs in arts and culture, business and policy, education, and community outreach.