Meet the Japanese diplomat sharing daily paper crane messages of peace and health

The Consul General of Japan in Seattle has been creating daily Instagram paper crane videos, wishing his viewers peace.

Hisao Inagaki is set to post his 365th clip next week – marking a year of videos.

Each clip is almost identical and is accompanied by a message saying he is “praying for everyone’s health and peace.”

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A post shared by Hisao Inagaki (@hisaoinagaki)

Many Japanese believe that if someone folds a thousand “orizuru” origami paper cranes, they will be granted a wish.

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A post shared by Consulate General (@cgj_of_japan_in_seattle)

The veteran diplomat and graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology took up his position last August. He joined the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1985 and had three other U.S. posting prior to his Seattle deployment.

The diplomatic performance art, if we can call it that, began on August 22, 2020. It was only interrupted for two days in March, causing some dismay among his followers. pic.twitter.com/oKCq2OX73q
— Matt Knight (@MattCKnight) August 9, 2021

Twitter user Matt Knight noted that the consul’s project was interrupted for two days in March owing to a technical problem.

“This is one of the most wholesome things ever,” one Twitter user remarked in response. “[H]ow pure and also neurotic,” said another commenter.

The Seattle consulate services around 18,000 Japanese residents and helps promote business ties.