Tsunami damamge in Japan. Photo: PAP/EAP/STRThe concerts, featuring stars such as Anna Maria Jopek, Justyna Steczkowska and Maria Sadowska, are part of a series of nationwide events planned to provide ongoing aid to Japan, which remains reeling from the unprecedented quake earlier this month.
Three Varsovian friends of Japanese descent joined forces to set in motion the Milion Zurawi action (A Million Cranes).
“Legend has it that if someone manages to fold 1000 paper cranes, their wish will be fulfilled,” explains Karol Tomoki Yamazaki, one of the initiators of the campaign.
“We want to go a step further and collect as many cranes as possible,” he added. “A thousand is not enough.”
First Lady Anna Komorowska is patron of the enterprise, which comes under the umbrella of the wide-ranging Polish Humanitarian Action.
The first concert, headlined by Anna Jopek, will take place today at the Fabryka Trzciny venue. Tomorrow's event will be hosted at the Old Orangerie of the Royal Gardens of Lazienki. Guests will be invited to join in a symbolic submission of paper cranes.
It has been estimated that the ultimate death toll as a result of the cataclysm may pass 18,000. Hundreds of thousands remain homeless.
The Million Cranes initiative can be joined
on Facebook.
(nh)