Reiko Ho returns to familiar turf as she directs Honolulu Theatre for Youth's Hawai'i premiere of "A Thousand Cranes," the touching drama about a Japanese girl who was a victim of the atomic bombings in World War II Japan and an inspiration to the peace movement worldwide.

The play kicks off in Honolulu tonight at Tenney Theatre on the grounds of St. Andrew's Cathedral. It earlier toured the Neighbor Islands.

"I've known the story since I was a little girl, and I've been teaching it at La Pietra for the past few years," said Ho, who was drama director at the school until recently. "It's just been wonderful going back to it."

Stephanie Kuroda plays Sadako Sasaki, a 12-year-old who survived the bombing in 1945 and was later diagnosed with leukemia. Kuroda, who played "Snow White" for HTY last year, was hadn't heard of the now-classic story before she considered the part.

"I read it, and then went to other people, who told me, 'Oh, yeah, I remembering reading it,' " Kuroda said. "So many people on this island have known this story; even my cousin, visiting from Seattle recently, read it in intermediate school. I started wondering, where was I?"

Now Kuroda and Ho are at the crossroads of the poignant drama, which mixes cultural themes with historic facts, surrounded by a mix of theatrical elements such as Japanese Butoh dance, puppetry and masks. There's even nontraditional video, projected as a backdrop to develop setting, giving spectators a sense of a moving art piece. All within a concise, 50-minute playing time, suitable for young audiences.

"There are tons of technical elements that enhance the story," Ho said.

And not surprisingly, thousands of paper origami cranes — part of the set and part of a growing mound on the apron of the stage. School audiences on the Neighbor Islands and on O'ahu have been incorporating Sadako's plight in their preshow studies.

Folding the paper birds — which eventually will be shipped to Hiroshima — has been part of the extended agenda (see story, Page 17).

Essentially, the core of the story is the strength, resilience, courage and wisdom of Sadako, who first notices her radiation sickness when, at 11, she becomes dizzy after running and winning a race.

Her friend tells her a Japanese legend — that if she folds a thousand origami cranes, she will get well.

So she folds and folds and folds paper cranes — never complaining, never giving up — until she dies, unable to complete her mission. She folded 644; in real life, her friends and classmates folded the remaining 356 cranes to make that symbolic 1,000.

"I really appreciate her resilience," Kuroda said about the character she's gotten to admire. "She holds on, maintaining a sense of pride and understanding, about herself and about other people.

"While there are some heavy scenes, there is lightness and brightness, too, because Sadako is a very bright character and a bright person. She makes everyone relate to her, understand her. There's tranquility in her spirit."

While aimed at upper elementary school youngsters, Ho said the production is accessible for everyone, adults included.

"I think there's ongoing appeal because the story of Sadako is real, about a girl who inspired the world," said Ho. "Her story is a message for hope and peace — a message still relevant today.

"The script calls for some traditional use of masks, an element of Japanese theater," said Ho. "However, we've taken it a bit further. The play is stylized, about memory, so there's a stream-of-consciousness thing, going in and out of Sadako's story. Butoh lent itself well, too."

Butoh technique involves slow, improvisational dance movements, suggesting Sadako's struggle as she makes her transition from life to death.

Original music and original sounds have been created to accompany the Butoh elements, Ho said: "There is some ambient music to create transition; the sounds range from chimes to female Buddhist monks chanting, ringing bells and children laughing."

Kuroda said while researching the Sadako role after "Snow White," she found that both characters had common goals. "Both are young girls who go through changes, with certain types of strength," she said. "Obviously, they are incredibly different people with different wishes."

One thing stuck with her, although it's not in the play. "Sadako says 'I will write 'peace' on your wings (referring to the origami cranes), and you will fly all over the world.' "

Even though Sadako didn't survive, "she had an understanding about world peace," Kuroda said.

Reach Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com.