Japanese tradition invokes better times

It’s been a long winter but spring has arrived and a tree of 1,000 origami cranes in colours of the four seasons is bringing positivity to staff and students, symbolising change and healing in a sombre year. The mastermind of international student Natsumi Oda, the project was created to promote wellbeing and a sense of community amid the disconnection of COVID-19.

A Rotary Foundation Global Scholar, Ms Oda is in Australia undertaking her Master of Social Work at Flinders University. Despite the intensity of her studies and placements, she has immersed herself in the community – including local Rotary clubs, the Japanese Association of SA and the SA School for Vision Impaired.

She initiated the cranes project as an inclusive, therapeutic group activity to develop mental concentration and promote a sense of belonging in the community during a challenging year.

“The outbreak of COVID-19 has impacted people in various ways, and I noticed that the social distancing, self-isolation or quarantine practices were overwhelming people and disconnecting them from their communities.

“To offset these negative mental health impacts, I developed the ‘1,000 Paper Cranes Project’ in April to help people reconnect with their community.”

She says senbazuru (1,000 Paper Cranes) is an ancient Japanese tradition whereby a group of people construct 1,000 paper cranes to wish for healing and peace.

In Japan, the crane is a mystical creature which legend claims to live for a thousand years, hence the 1,000 cranes – one for each year. The creations are often made through a collective effort and given as a wish for healing in the sick, or victory for sports teams.

Natsumi Oda (left) encourages community participation at the Brighton Shopping Centre

Ms Oda worked with the Rotary Club of Holdfast Bay (her host club), the Australia Japanese Association of SA and Flinders University International Student Services to complete the 1,000 cranes.

“The wider community was also involved through a promotion at Brighton Central Shopping Centre, and once we reached 1,000 cranes they were displayed on the Peace and Healing Tree sculpture at the centre in the July school holidays,” she says.

Ms Oda also delivered an online origami session for international students at Flinders University, and established the 1000 Paper Cranes Facebook Group – where more than 230 members from across the globe are posting photos of their paper cranes and positive messages of peace and healing.

Ms Oda has experienced isolation and suffering herself during the pandemic. She was distraught not to join her family for the funeral of her grandfather, after he passed away during the lockdown in Japan.

She says together with peace, healing and the inevitability of change, the crane tree is a symbol of human resilience.

(Below: From the 1,000 Paper Cranes Facebook group, Natsumi Oda shares the crane building technique)

Natsumi makes an Origami crane – Instruction Video

Posted by Paul Harvey on Monday, April 13, 2020

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