Hiroshima: contributing to peace and the environment

My interest in the themes of war and peace began during a school trip to Nagasaki. As a young student, visiting the Peace Park and Atomic Bomb Museum left an indelible mark on my mind. The solemnity of the exhibits and the profound silence of the cenotaphs sparked a realization of the destructive consequences of war. Back then, my classmates and I folded a thousand paper cranes—a gesture inspired by the story of Sadako Sasaki, a victim of the Hiroshima atomic bombing who spent the last months of her life making origami cranes while dying of radiation sickness. Yet, even as my classmates and I offered our cranes with sincere prayers, a question lingered in my mind: Is this act truly enough to carry the message of peace?

Over the years, this question grew into a personal quest to understand how peace could be expressed in more tangible, impactful ways. Moving to Hiroshima in 2022 gave me an opportunity to explore this further. Here, I discovered the inspiring efforts of Maruei Corporation, a company that creatively repurposes Hiroshima’s iconic paper cranes and oyster shells, turning symbols of the city’s identity into practical and sustainable resources.

Breathing new life into paper cranes

Every year, the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park receives millions of paper cranes sent by people from across the globe as gestures of solidarity and hope. These cranes, while symbolically powerful, pose a logistical challenge: what can be done with the overwhelming number of donated cranes after they have served their purpose?

Maruei Corporation saw an opportunity to address this issue innovatively. The company developed a unique construction material by blending fibers from recycled paper cranes with crushed oyster shells. This product is both functional and sustainable, and it is also meaningful, embodying Hiroshima’s spirit of resilience. It can be seen in action in the Motherhouse (マザーハウス) boutique store located in the SHIMINT HIROSHIMA building near Hiroshima Gate Park.

Oyster shells: from waste to wonder

Hiroshima is Japan's largest oyster producer, renowned for its high-quality oysters that are a staple in the region's culinary culture. However, the success of the oyster industry comes with an environmental drawback: the inedible shells, left behind in large quantities after each harvest. The disposal of these shells has become a substantial environmental concern, with landfills often reaching capacity. Maruei Corporation initially found practical uses for these shells in agriculture, using them as a nutrient-rich additive in chicken feed and fertilizer due to their high calcium content.

However, Maruei wanted to explore new ways to upcycle oyster shells in applications beyond agriculture. This led to the idea of using them in a new building material for homes and businesses, and in doing so, Maruei has helped mitigate the oyster shell disposal issue while bringing a piece of Hiroshima’s natural environment into people’s living spaces.

In 2015, Maruei introduced its first line of DIY wall materials, which combined oyster shell powder with a pulp made from paper and other common recyclables. However, the story took a pivotal turn when Yasumasa Okino, a manager in Maruei's sales department, was struck with the inspiration to use recycled paper cranes. Okino frequently passed a monument in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park that was commonly festooned with the brightly colored paper cranes that were annually donated to the museum. Recognizing what a challenge managing the donated cranes must have been, Okino wondered if they could be repurposed. After considerable research and experimentation, Maruei succeeded in creating a new generation of wall materials that combined oyster shell powder with recycled pulp from paper cranes. These new wall materials not only captured the essence of Hiroshima’s peace message but also provided an eco-friendly way to use materials that would otherwise go to landfill.

Crafting a material with a message

Bringing the idea of oyster shells and recycled paper cranes into a functional product required innovation and technical development. The mixture of oyster-shell powder and paper pulp needed to be both aesthetically pleasing and structurally sound, and Maruei spent years testing different ratios and refining the blending process to ensure the walls maintained durability and strength while showcasing the unique texture and symbolism of the cranes.

Through trial and error, the company finally succeeded in producing a wall material that could withstand everyday use while possessing a soft, distinct texture reminiscent of origami paper. The end product was not only durable but also visually appealing, with hints of natural oyster shell particles and subtle colors from the paper crane pulp. Each wall built using this material tells a story of environmental care and collective hope for peace, echoing the wishes carried by each paper crane.

Spreading Peace and Environmental Sustainability Worldwide

Since its release in 2019, Maruei’s wall material has gained popularity through word of mouth as a symbolic product embodying the spirit of Hiroshima. The product has found its way into homes, offices, and businesses, with various companies and builders choosing it for its unique combination of aesthetics and meaningful symbolism. Some customers report feeling a connection to Hiroshima’s message of peace simply by being surrounded by the recycled crane walls.

Maruei’s initiative also holds the potential to spread Hiroshima’s values on an international scale. In a time when sustainable and eco-friendly products are increasingly in demand, Maruei’s peace-themed wall material aligns well with international values, allowing it to serve as both a statement of solidarity and a conversation piece in any setting.

Environmental impact and future possibilities

The use of oyster shells in Maruei’s wall material is more than symbolic. It can serve as a replacement for concrete, which is typically more carbon-intensive, and due to its high calcium carbonate content, it can help stabilize the interior climate by regulating moisture. Maruei’s commitment to sustainable manufacturing extends beyond just its products, however; by finding new uses for waste materials, the company contributes to a circular economy that reduces strain on landfills and promotes sustainable development.

Moreover, the company’s continued research and development reflect its vision for further applications of oyster shells and other recyclable materials, such as in furniture and decorative elements, with the goal of further reducing waste and contributing to an eco-friendly future.

Yasumasa Okino's vision of peace

For Yasumasa Okino, the fusion of oyster shells and paper cranes represents more than a product; it’s a personal mission to inspire reflection on peace and environmental responsibility. Okino views peace as a fragile yet vital concept that must be actively nurtured in an increasingly divided world. Through Maruei’s efforts, he hopes to bring Hiroshima’s message of peace into everyday lives, fostering a global dialogue about sustainability and harmony.

Conclusion: building a better future

Hiroshima’s legacy as a beacon of peace continues to evolve. Efforts like Maruei’s innovative wall materials remind us that even the smallest gestures can contribute to a more peaceful and sustainable world. Their work stands as an inspiring example of how innovation and tradition can intersect to address modern challenges, offering hope that the spirit of Hiroshima will continue to inspire future generations.

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