Origami Crane Intented. Sadako sasaki the origami crane (折鶴 orizuru in japanese) has become a symbol of peace because of this belief and because of a young japanese girl named sadako sasaki. Origami became a very prominent art form in japan and in europe from as early as 1490.
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Origami as we know it was popularized and taught in japanese schools in art class, and has since evolved as a childhood pastime. The senbazuru was the subject of the first book ever published about origami. Cranes represent the soul being safely transported to its next incarnation, she said.