Chiune sugihara, sugihara chiune, 1 january 1900 31 july 1986 was a japanese diplomat who served as viceconsul for the japanese empire in kaunas, lithuania. Chiune sugihara was a diplomat who left japan to work in lithuania, a small country in eastern europe. Chiune sugihara was a japanese government official who served as vice consul for the japanese empire in lithuania. The book is told through the eyes of a five year old d, hiroki sugihara. Defying orders from his government, sugihara handwrote visas for weeks to grant refugees passage through the soviet union to japan. The sugihara story is a childrens picture book written by ken mochizuki and illustrated by dom lee with an afterward from hiroki sugihara. Japanese high school applies sugiharas story in an english textbook. The museum exhibits documents brought from japanese archives. In 1940, yukiko sugihara was with her husband, the japanese consul chiune sugihara, in kaunas kovnolithuanias capital between the wars. About chiune sugiharathe chiune sugihara memorial hall.
In 1940, chiune sugihara, japans then consul general in kaunas, lithuania. This japanese diplomat saved jews what the astonishing chiune sugihara teaches us about moral heroism. Joel ben izzy was cleaning a jewish graveyard in japan, when he stumbled upon the story of chiune sugihara a rebellious japanese. The only official and authorized page by nobuki sugihara, the only living son of chiune sugihara, dedicated to tell the real story of his father. Chiune sugihara 19001986, a japanese diplomat, risked his job and reputation in order to save thousands of people. Chiune sempo sugihara january 1, 1900 july 31, 1986. Companion web site to the pbs documentary sugihara. In defiance of his superiors, sugihara decided to provide transit visas to thousands of jews who had escaped german persecution in poland. His thoughts and actions make us proud to be japanese and urge us to become individuals that will continue serving others in the midst of difficulties. When chiune sugihara was growing up in japan, he had never even met a jewish person. Sugihara yoshimi, and an uppermiddle class mother, yatsu sugihara. Inspire a love of reading with prime book box for kids discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1. Thousands of people owe their lives in part to his willingness to buck authority.
Chiune sugihara, sugihara chiune, 1 january 1900 31 july 1986 was a japanese diplomat. Premiere persona non grata tells the story of japanese diplomat chiune. Judith elbaum schumer explains how her family got out of lithuania during wwii with the help of the japanese diplomat chiune sugihara, who saved thousands of. And by this, the honor of chiune sugihara was restored completely. Portrait of yukiko sugihara, the wife of chiune sugihara. There, as viceconsul of imperial japan and during a period of less than one month during the summer of 1940, he defied direct orders and enabled an estimated 6,000 jews. Holocaust survivors and victims database sugihara database. On july 27, sugihara saw hundreds of people waiting outside the consulate. Sugiharas deeds took place not in asia but on the other side of the world, in kaunas kovno, lithuania.
A shamed man joel ben izzy was cleaning a jewish graveyard in japan, when he stumbled upon the story of chiune sugihara a rebellious japanese ambassador to lithuania. Chiune sugihara bio, facts, family famous birthdays. Sugihara chiune, january 1, 1900 july 31, 1986 was a japanese diplomat who saved jews during the world war ii when he was a japanese consul to lithuania. Honored in israel and japan, yet still largely unknown in the west, japanese diplomat and spy chiune sugihara, with this book, joins the ranks of raoul. Persona non grata the chiune sugihara story on vimeo. Escaping lithuania with the help of chiune sugihara youtube. The myth of chiune sugihara as currently portrayed. Chiune sugihara, japan diplomat who saved 6,000 jews. Chiune risked his own safety and career to save the lives of thousands. Harbin diplomat period 19391940 his potential abilities were recognized in harbin and he began his promising career as a diplomat there. Following the german attack on poland and the beginning of the persecution of the jews there, many fled eastwards. The sugihara story, by ken mochizuki and illustrated by dom lee, is written from the perspective.
Chiune sugihara, a japanese diplomat serving as consul in kaunas, lithuania during world war ii, he helped rescue some 6,000 desperate jewish refugees fleeing annihilation by the nazis by defying his own government and issuing transit visas through japan. Amazingly hawt chiune sugihara was a japanese diplomat who served as viceconsul for the japanese empire in lithuania. He served as viceconsul for the empire of japan in lithuania during world war ii. According to witnesses, sugihara filled in visas even while on the train from kaunas to berlin. He was one of those who appeared to have no discernible motivation other than just wanting to do what was right, and came to be known as the japanese. With the spread of german control throughout europe, jews began to flee poland in search of safety from the nazis. Chiune sugihara, and his wife yukiko, are honored as righteous gentiles for their efforts to save jews during the holocaust in the course of human existence, many people are tested. Following the man sometimes called the schindler of japan, this film details the life of chiune sugihara, a diplomat and intelligence agent for the empire of japan in the years leading up to and spanning the second world war.
Aug, 20 judith elbaum schumer explains how her family got out of lithuania during wwii with the help of the japanese diplomat chiune sugihara, who saved thousands of jews. Chiune sugihara timelineabout chiune sugiharathe chiune. In the video wife of righteous among the nations sempo sugihara of japan, produced by yad vashem, yukiko sugihara describes the events and ideas that led to her husbands decision to write passage visas that helped thousands of jewish refugees escape. We all know about schindler and his dedication to saving as many jewish lives as he could during the holocaust, but not a lot is known about sugihara, the japanese schindler, who saved the second largest number of. Highlights the international raoul wallenberg foundation. Til of japanese diplomat chiune sugihara, who signed transit visas. Sugihara s story is a kind of bright light for lithuania, says simonas strelcovas, a historian who has written a book about the japanese diplomat and the refugees who fled to lithuania. With the help of modern technology, we present unique moments of chiune sugiharas life, stories of those who were rescued by him. Chiune sugihara, the japanese viceconsul in kaunas, lithuania, is being credited with the issuance of 2,9 family visas for the stranded jewish families during the period from july 29 to august 26, 1940. Chiune sugihara simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. But in 1968, a survivor who had become an israeli diplomat, joshua nishri, finally made contact. It chronicles the political life of chiune sugihara, a viceconsul in kaunas, lithuania, as told from the perspective and based on the testimony of hiroki sugihara the eldest of four sons.
Chiune and yukiko sugihara dine with a german officer in. New film about chiune sugihara, the japanese schindler. After that, in 2000, the year that marks the birth centennial of chiune sugihara, a plate with the words in honor of the diplomat chiune sugihara, who performed a courageous and humanitarian act was placed at the foreign ministry archives. Chiune sugihara was a japanese diplomat who served as viceconsul for the japanese. Countless thousands could have been saved if other consuls had acted more like sugihara. Sugihara had been carefully chosen for this position he spoke russian fluently and in his previous position as the minister of foreign affairs in manchuria.
Chiune sugihara, a japanese diplomat serving as consul in kaunas, lithuania during world war ii, he helped rescue some 6,000 desperate jewish refugees fleeing annihilation by the nazis by defying his own government and issuing transit visas throu. Along the way he inspired others to conspire for good, even prompting an. Chiune sugihara, a humble japanese man whose remarkable actions made him a humanitarian hero. Kovno, lithuania august 1940 in november 1939, chiune sugihara, a japanese diplomat, opened a consulate in kovno, lithuania. Congress renders tribute to baruch tenembaum national public radio npr interviews the irwf. A museum based on the life of chiune sugihara 19001986, a japanese diplomat who issued. If there had been 2,000 consuls like chiune sugihara, a million jewish children could have been saved from the ovens of auschwitz. In june 1940, the soviet union invaded lithuania and ordered all consulates to close by the end of august. He was best known for helping more than 6,000 jews leave lithuania during the holocaust. Chiune sugihara united states holocaust memorial museum. A street in lithuania is named after chiune sugihara. In 1940 the diplomat, chiune sugihara, issued special visas for 6,000 jews in lethuania to let them escape from the nazi persecution.
Til of the unofficial russian book the last ringbearer which describes the lord of the rings trilogy from saurons point of view and portrays mordor as. Honoring sugiharaabout chiune sugiharathe chiune sugihara. One such person was chiune sugihara, a japanese diplomat in the japanese consulate in kaunas, lithuania, during world war ii. Sugihara decided to facilitate their escape from wartorn europe.
During when the soviets invaded lithuania, sugihara issued about exit. There was no way chiune could know that he would one day save the lives of thousands of jews and become a great hero to the jewish people. At the time, lithuanian jews were suffering under nazi rule, and many hoped to escape before they could be. This book is an invaluable historic record of the heroic and humanitarian actions of japanese consul chiune sugihara, a name highly regarded in jewish society worldwide.
At about that time, hitler had risen to power as the nazi dictator in europe and was endangering the lives of the jewish people. Japanese diplomat chiune sugihara set about saving thousands of lives. Only a few soar as eagles and achieve greatness by simple acts of kindness, thoughtfulness and humanity. In 1940, chiune sugiharaa japanese diplomat stationed in lithuaniarisked his life to issue thousands of exit visas to jewish refugees fleeing from the nazis. This selfless act resulted in the second largest number of jews rescued from the nazis. Holocaust hero chiune sugihara democratic underground. Mochizuki and lees baseball saved us skillful volume pays tribute to chiune sugihara, a japanese diplomat posted to lithuania who in 1940 saved the lives of thousands of polish jews. Chiune sugihara was a japanese diplomat who found himself stationed in lithuania as consul on the even of war. Electronic data containing the names and visa dates of polish, lithuanian, german, dutch and russian jews, all of whom were saved by passports from the japanese diplomat chiune sugihara. A man of great moral character, chiune sugihara was moved by compassion after witnessing the dire needs of the jewish population during world war ii. All structured data from the file and property namespaces is available under the creative commons cc0 license. Part of his job there was to give people permission to leave the country. Apr 09, 2012 a man of great moral character, chiune sugihara was moved by compassion after witnessing the dire needs of the jewish population during world war ii. Interactive timeline of sugiharas life born january 1, 1900, in rural japan, chiune sugihara lived during a period of extraordinary change in his home.
Museum devoted to visas for life diplomat chiune sugihara to open in tokyo. Just before leaving to germany, he threw the signed visas through the train window. As a japanese diplomat in lithuania in the 1940s, chiune sugihara had a chance to help thousands of jews escape the holocaust through japan, but it was against his governments orders. New film about chiune sugihara, the japanese schindler, makes u. Includes home movies, photographs, film footage, and interviews with holocaust survivors who owe their lives to chiune sugihara. Chiune sugihara the courage to defy themes a tribute to. The elusive japanese diplomat who risked his life to rescue 10, 000 jews from the holocaust levine, hillel on. Jul 30, 2017 when chiune sugihara, japanese consul in lithuania during the holocaust, saw jews fleeing persecution gathered in front of his office, he knew what to do. What exam did he pass and how did it change his future. In the summer of 1940, jewish refugees from occupied poland came to him with bogus visas for curacao and other dutch possessions in america. In 1940 hirokis father, chiune sugihara was the japanese consul to lithuania. Chiune sugihara was a japanese diplomat stationed in the lithuanian prewar capital of kaunas kovno in the summer of 1940.
Tells the story of chiune sugihara and the transit visas he issued that allowed hundreds of jewish families to flee europe through russia to japan and other countries. Sugihara was the widow of chiune sugihara, the japanese consul in kaunas. He never knew if anything came of them and survivors had no luck finding him. The original surname of his parents was iwais, a very common one in those places. Conspiracy of kindness, with an interactive timeline examining sugiharas travels and key historical events that influenced his life. For his efforts, he was imprisoned by the soviets and fired from his job by the japanese foreign ministry. These consuls went strictly by the book, and in many cases, were even stricter in issuing visas than their governments required. Files are available under licenses specified on their description page.
Chiune sugihara visa for life, issued by chiune sugihara japanese diplomat chiune sugihara is revered for defying his own government and rescuing thousands of refugees fleeing nazi germany during world war. In the sugihara house, visitors are presented with an uptodate audiovisual exposition in the hisctorical rooms of the former consulate. Born in yaotsu, japan, sugihara attended tokyos prestigious waseda university. These people were chiune and yukiko sugihara who, at the beginning of world war ii, by an ultimate act of altruism and selfsacrifice, risked their careers, their livelihood and their future to save the lives of more than 6,000 jews. Chiune sugihara, who worked odd jobs after returning to japan and later was employed by a trading company in russia, worked in obscurity and never spoke of the visas.
During the second world war, sugihara helped about 6,000 jews flee europe by issuing transit visas to them so that they could travel through japanese territory, risking his job and the lives of his family. Father changes jobs thereafter, resulting in his living in mie prefecture and nagoya city. During his time at the japanese consulate in lithuania, sugihara issued more than 2,000. Chiune sugihara, japanese consul in kovno i may have to disobey the government, but if i dont, i would be disobeying god. Along with a few colleagues, he has been considered to have been a holocaust hero. Chiune sugihara was born on january 1st, 1900, and lived to make his mark on the twentieth century. Mordecai paldiel emphasizes the importance of honoring ones own after. Dec 24, 2017 chiune sugihara, known as the japanese schindler, saved more than 10,000 lives in lithuania dec 24, 2017 boban docevski for most people in positions of power, the easiest way out in times of trouble and tragedy is to save their own skin. At the time, lithuanian jews were suffering under nazi rule, and many hoped to escape before they could be taken to concentration camps. Hero of the holocaust is a biography of chiune sugihara, a japanese consul in lithuania who saved the lives of thousands of jews during world war ii. Seen through the eyes of his son, hiroki, who was five years old at the time, this moving story shows how one person can truly make a difference. Sugihara s definition of humanity as realized by helping those in trouble stemmed from his benevolent nature and japanese sense of dignity. During this crisis, chiune sugihara issued as many visas as possible. Chiune sugihara, japan diplomat who saved 6,000 jews during.
Roths the plot against america, a speculative novel about what might have. Chiune sugihara, known as the japanese schindler, saved. My tour of the holocaust museum with japanese prime minister. Rokusennin no inochi no visa new edition by yukiko sugihara taisho shuppan visas for 6,000 lives. Dec 05, 2015 glicks film yet to be fully releasedsee below recreates the life and times of obscure japanese diplomat, sugihara chiune, who turned into a worldclass humanitarian all but forgotten in the fog of history or, more likely, the smog of politically rewritten historyuntil now. Graduates from the fifth junior high school in aichi prefecture. Chiune sugihara was born on 1 january 1900 meiji 33, in mino, gifu prefecture, to a middleclass father, yoshimi sugihara. Chiune sempo sugihara january 1, 19001986 was the first japanese diplomat posted to lithuania.
Sugihara, chiune the jewish foundation for the righteous. Chiune sugihara the japanese holocaust savior youve. Sugihara is the definitive telling of this moving story and a monument to a. Chiune sugihara 19001986 japanese consul in kaunas, lithuania, who saved over 2,000 polish jewish refugees during world war ii by issuing japanese transit visas that allowed them to escape to the far east. His father wanted him to be a doctor, but his dream had always been to study literature and live abroad. Chiune sugihara served as japans vice consul in lithuania during the war, and was responsible for the rescue of several thousand jews from the nazi death camps.