Paper Cranes for Japan: The Journey of Two Million Cranes

Over the past year, we've witnessed the incredible journey of 2 million paper cranes, mailed in by thousands of young people worldwide to support Japan, after the devastating earthquake on March 11, 2011. This 4-minute film captures the story of the Paper Cranes for Japan campaign, and how it became a worldwide movement. 


All told, students raised over $500,000 to support Architecture for Humanity's rebuilding efforts in the Tohoku region. You can learn more about how Students Rebuild and Architecture for Humanity continue to work with the communities in Japan affected by the earthquake and tsunami here.

Paper Cranes for Japan: On the Wings of Hope

Students Rebuild is also thrilled to share a five minute film that chronicles the creation of Vik Muniz's Large Paper Crane. So inspired by the generosity and hope engendered by young people's support for their Japense peers, renowned artist Vik Muniz invited students to his Brooklyn studio to create a work of art celebrating Paper Cranes for Japan. This is the story of that collaboration.



Vik's stunning piece was photographed and turned into a beautiful, 40" x 50" poster, available for just $30, including shipping and handling within the United States. All proceeds directly support Architecture for Humanity's reconstruction efforts in Japan. ORDER YOUR POSTER TODAY.

How it all began:

In response to the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan in March, 2011, Students Rebuild partnered with DoSomething.org's "Paper Cranes for Japan" campaign to inspire young people worldwide to support their Japanese peers. The response to our call to action? Young people from across the globe folded millions of paper cranes and inspired genorosity we could never have imaged. So inspired by your action, the Bezos Family Foundation doubled their donation to Architecture for Humanity's rebuilding efforts in Japan. Soon after, an anonymous donor contributed an additional $100,000 to the cause. The outpouring of youth support for Japan caught the eye of world-renowned artist Vik Muniz, whose Large Paper Crane is composed of 60,000 of your paper cranes. invited students to his Brooklyn studio to collaborate on a work of art celebrating Paper Cranes for Japan. 

Learn more about Vik Muniz and read his interview on the Students Rebuild Japan blog.