Here's a cool story about a guy in Japan who makes an annual trek from Yokohama to Hiroshima and Nagasaki, carrying 1,000 origami cranes that he hands out as gifts to children.

Every year, Hiroshi Toda, aged 74, rides his Electra Glide, through the "Land of the Rising Sun", amidst cherry blossoms, and views of snow-capped Mt. Fuji. You can imagine as children smile with anticipation to the rumble of Toda's Twin-Cam 88 like a modern-day Santa Claus.

The origami cranes are actually made by children at a local school, containing messages that they've written to their eventual recipients. Then he pours them into his Tour Pak and hard bags, and sets out on his trip to Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the two cities that we atomized over 50 years ago.

The journey takes 13 hours, and he keeps journal of his travels, one of which says...

"I left early on the morning of Oct. 13, 2006. There are a few stars here and there, twinkling in the early morning sky late in fall. My beloved Harley-Davidson Electra Glide's engine sounds good and strong."

(I too happen to have a beloved Harley Davidson Electra Glide, and it too sounds "good and strong".)

When he gets to his destination, he parks his bike at Nagasaki Peace Park, and sleeps on a park bench, until sunrise. The message of peace is spread forth thereafter.

You can read more about Hiroshi Toda here...

http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200709110069.html

Labels: Hiroshi Toda, Japan, World Peace