Japanese Holocaust Rescuer: Sugihara 'Sempo' Chiune

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generationsackcloth
March 25, 2008

"Do you remember this?" It was an event in August, 1968. A gentle man visited SUGIHARA. This gentleman showed SUGIHARA one sheet of paper that had become tattered. It was the visa that SUGIHARA issued in Kaunas of Lithuania 28 years ago. "I found you finally, Mr. Sugihara. We have never forgotten you." This gentleman's name was B.Gehashra Nishri.

In the fall of 1939, SUGIHARA Chiune was sent by the Japanese government to Kaunas (Kovno), Lithuania, to open a consulate. He had barely settled into his new post when the Germany invaded Poland, forcing a wave of Jewish refugees to flee eastward into neighboring Lithuania. The desperate refugees brought with them chilling tales of German atrocities against the Jewish population.

SUGIHARA Chiune was one of the most important rescuers of Jews during the Nazi Holocaust. An estimated 40,000 descendants of the Jewish refugees he saved are alive today because of his courageous actions. The story of Chiune Sugihara is among the most remarkable of the second world war.

SUGIHARA 'Sempo' Chiune was the Japanese Consul General in Kaunas (Kovno), Lithuania in 1939 and 1940. When World War II broke out, Consul Sugihara's office was flooded with visa requests from thousands of Jews fleeing German-occupied Poland. With the encouragement of his wife Yukiko, Sugihara issued Japanese transit visas to as many as 6,000 Polish Jews.

SUGIHARA acted on his own without the official permission of his government. In issuing the visas, SUGIHARA felt that he was risking his career, his future and even his safety. After the war, he was let go from the diplomatic service, and rather than being honored for his humanitarian initiative, he spent his life in disgrace, never recognized by Japan during his lifetime.

B. Gehashra Nishri visited SUGIHARA in 1968, he was Counsellor of Israeli embassy. When the train that SUGIHARA's family boarded was leaving from the Kaunas station 28 years ago, Nishri shouted "Thank you, SUGIHARA!! I never forget you. I will come to see you again!" to the train. Nishri could find SUGIHARA finally after an interval of 28 years.

45 years after signing the visas, SUGIHARA was asked why he did it. He replied: "They were human beings and they needed help. I'm glad I found the strength to make the decision to give it to them."

Category: Education

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Sugihara 'Sempo' Chiune Holocaust Jewish Rescuer Japan World War II

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MrsmARTist (4 weeks ago) Show Hide

+10

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A true honest brave HERO

tokyocityrat (1 month ago) Show Hide

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He should have won the Novel peace prize. A true honourable man. But Japanese goverment treated him so cold after his return to Japan.....sad. But I think God is watching.

crazybabee789 (1 month ago) Show Hide

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what a truly inspiring story if only he was still alive to be commended for his actions!

deko9s (1 month ago) Show Hide

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It is proud as the same Japanese.

FloJoMoJo676 (2 months ago) Show Hide

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I was linked to this video by an article I happened upon, and I'm just in tears. Thank you so much for uploading this.

septemberpuppy (3 months ago) Show Hide

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I have never heard of this before. I'm wondering why.
Thank you for uploading this video.

twilightgirl277569 (4 months ago) Show Hide

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the story passage of freedom think was my lesson from ela i'm in 6th grade sugihara was a diplomat were learning about him

TEXJAPCOWBOY (4 months ago) Show Hide

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Not only Sugihara, but also the Japanese MPs at Trans-Siberian Railway, the immigration officers, and even Japanese government were supportive to those Jews, because they accepted the "invalid" visa that illegally issued by Sugihara and protected the journey, and provided places to stay in Japan.
This might be a part of FUGU Plan.

minase0906 (5 months ago)

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gart97 (5 months ago) Show Hide

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G-d bless this great, courageous and righteous man, his wife and family!

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Japanese Holocaust Rescuer: Sugihara 'Sempo' Chiune

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