h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Great guide entry. One question should be posed though :
Did she in fact make greater than 1000 cranes?
I have heard from a variety of sources that she did indeed
make more than a 1000 and the number was brought back (by
certain authors) to 644 cranes to make the story more memorable.

No matter how many, it still is a inspiring story to read and
well done again.

Her own diaries and letters, which were published, indicate few than 1000. I haven't heard of the greater than 1000 cranes made - I don't know.

According to a Special Exhibition website hosted by the City of Hiroshima there are two points that need to be researched more:

1) "On August 3, multi-colored paper cranes were sent to the hospital to encourage the patients by people in Nagoya." Sadako was one of those encouraged to start making their own; and,

2) "By the end of August---less than a month after she started―--Sadako had 1,000 paper cranes, but she continued to fold."

http://www.pcf.city.hiroshima.jp/virtual/VirtualMuseum_e/exhibit_e/exh0107_e/exh01071.html

On another page on the site they confirm that "Although Sadako actually folded over 1300 cranes, many versions have her folding less than 1000."

http://www.pcf.city.hiroshima.jp/virtual/VirtualMuseum_e/exhibit_e/exh0107_e/exh01075.html

but, as they point out, the actual number does not detract from teh story and its significance.