Senichiwa no tsuru: One Thousand One Cranes

The practice of folding one thousand origami cranes began in Japan as a way to wish for good health for an ailing loved one. This practice has evolved into the Japanese American tradition of folding one thousand one origami cranes to wish for good luck and prosperity on special occasions, such as weddings, silver and golden anniversaries and kanreki (60th) birthdays.

At Let's Knit Yarn Shop, Mrs. Oyama has made beautiful custom crane creations for her customers for more than twenty years. Ranging from kanji characters to traditional Japanese* and Hawaiian motifs, she has enjoyed the process of working with her customers to create something both beautiful and meaningful for each of them.

If you are planning to include tsuru in an upcoming celebration, Mrs. Oyama will be happy to meet with you for an initial consultation. Design choices may be limited based on the size of origami paper you use to fold your cranes, so we encourage you to meet with her before you begin making the cranes.**

Please call to schedule an appointment as soon as you know the date of your event. Spring and summer months can get very busy, and you should plan to have your cranes folded well in advance of your event date.

* Please note: as of July 2011, Mrs. Oyama is no longer making kamon (family crest) designs.

** Metallic origami paper is available at Let's Knit Yarn Shop. Shipping is available; please call to order.