Late Japanese diplomat honored as WWII hero
The life of Chiune Sugihara, a Japanese diplomat who issued thousands of visas to save the lives of Jews fleeing Nazi Germany in World War II, was remembered and honored by representatives from Japanese and Jewish communities at a news conference Thursday.
The commemoration in Los Angeles came after the state of California designated July 29, 2021, Sugihara Visas Day. It was on that day in 1940 that Sugihara began issuing visas, enabling 2,140 Jews to escape persecution, according to the resolution.
But because visas were issued to heads of household for entire families, the number of lives saved is thought to be much higher.
In 1939, Sugihara became vice consul of the Japanese Consulate in Kaunas, Lithuania, according to a pamphlet created by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. Soon after, Jewish refugees from Poland began gathering at the consulate in hopes of obtaining transit visas — visas allowing passage through Japan to seek refuge in other
countries.
According to the Jewish Virtual Library, for nearly one month Sugihara and his wife, Yukiko, personally signed more than 300 visas a day. When refugees began climbing the compound wall at the consulate desperate to flee the Nazis, who were rapidly advancing east, Sugihara met them outside to assure them he would do his best to grant them visas.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan instructed Sugihara to issue transit visas to those who had completed immigration procedures to their final destinations and had enough money to pay for travel. Despite this, Sugihara also issued transit visas to applicants who did not meet those requirements — a risky move in defying his government.
His efforts made a difference “across countries, even at his own peril,” said Patricia Wyatt, president and CEO of the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center.
Sugihara’s visas became known as “visas for life” because they saved lives, said Yuko Kaifu, president of Japan House Los Angeles.
Speakers agreed Sugihara’s actions have lasting impact. His effort “goes beyond space and time,” Kaifu said. “The legacy of Sugihara has helped to foster friendship between Japanese and Jewish communities.” After being granted the visas in Lithuania, Jewish refugees fled from Kaunas to Moscow — where they rode the Trans-Siberian Railway to Vladivostok in eastern Russia. From there, they traveled by sea to Japan. Many were allowed to stay in Kobe, Japan, for several months before being sent to Shanghai, China; the United States; or Canada.
Later Thursday, Japan House teamed up with the Japanese Cultural & Community Center, the American Jewish Committee Los Angeles and the local Consulate General of Japan to host a virtual celebration of Sugihara Visas Day. The program featured speakers and a documentary film honoring Sugihara’s work, including a presentation by Sugihara House in Kaunas, Lithuania.
State Sen. Bob Hertzberg, who introduced the legislation proclaiming Thursday Sugihara Visas Day, attended the news conference. He spoke to the importance of continuing humanitarian efforts today, when many communities continue to face persecution.
“We just need in our generation to find more Sugiharas,” he said.