One student, Nanako Nomura, sat each evening in the Lancaster Township home of her host parents and gingerly folded tissue-like paper into the shape of a crane.

A month later, Nomura and seven other Japanese students had created 1,000 of the origami birds, which represent a prayer for health and healing.

As a gesture of kindness and sympathy, the teens today will present the cranes to the families of the victims of the Oct. 2 West Nickel Mines School shootings. The students will meet the families in the garage where they are now holding classes.

Nomura, 17, and friend and fellow exchange student Karin Dobashi, 16, said Thursday they felt compelled to reach out to the Amish community after hearing about the tragedy, in which five young Amish girls were killed and five were wounded.

“We want them to know that we want them to feel better soon,” said Nomura at the home of host parents Bruce and Carol Mawhinney.

“This is a way for us to extend our sympathy,” added Dobashi.

Nomura is a student at Lancaster Christian School, and Dobashi attends Lititz Christian School. Both girls are students at Toyo High School in Numazo, Japan, and are participating in the exchange through American Home Life International, based in Lancaster.

They will complete their yearlong visit in March.

Scott Bronner, development director of American Home Life, said he is in awe of the gift the teens have created.

“Most of us at (the organization) didn’t realize what an exceptional act of kindness this was until we actually saw the completed cranes,” Bronner said. “The time they put into this is incredible. It’s an amazing gesture.”

American Home Life contacted the Amish families on behalf of the teens.

Nomura’s host mother said she is “so very proud” of what the students have accomplished.

“I think it’s absolutely tremendous,” Carol Mawhinney said. “I’m excited, and I think it speaks volumes about these girls. To want to reach out and give back — it’s a beautiful expression.”

The art of origami began in China in the first or second century and spread to Japan in the sixth century.

“Ori” is the Japanese word for folding, and “kami” is the Japanese word for paper.

The custom of 1,000 cranes comes from a Japanese legend that said anyone who folds a thousand origami paper cranes would be granted a wish.

Both girls have practiced the art for several years.

Dobashi said she can’t remember how old she was when she learned origami, but remembers creating the folded-paper shapes in kindergarten.

“I’ve been doing it for so long it comes naturally,” she said, as she gently formed a piece of paper into a work of art.

Folding the cranes was the easy part.

The girls said they are nervous about meeting the Amish families today.

“I don’t know what I’ll say to them,” Nomura said. “I’ll probably just tell them that we’re thinking of them — that we want them to have hope.”


Jennifer Todd’s e-mail address is jtodd@lnpnews.com.