Thousand origami cranes at Fushimi Inari Taisha

In Japan, the crane is an important symbol of longevity and there is a folkloric belief that the crane lives 1000 years. That was the base of the tradition saying that the crane will grant a wish of health and long life to anyone who will make 1000 origami cranes - senbazuru 「千羽鶴」.

To make a senbazuru, the 1000 origami representing cranes are tied together with a string. They are offered as wedding gifts (for 1000 years of good luck and prosperity) or as gifts to a newborn child. Senbazuru are also kept in the house as lucky charms or they can be brought to shrines, like you can see in this photo taken at Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto.