"Chiune Sugihara (1900 - 1986)" - 2 -

That morning of July 27, Showa 15 (1940) while Sugihara delegated as the consular agent of Japanese consulate in Lithuanian capital of Kaunas, he noticed a loud clamor outside the building, where nearly 200 Jews conglomerated from Poland on foot in order to escape from Nazis persecution and to travel to other safe haven via Japan. Since Sugihara was not allowed to issue numerous visas by consulate's authority alone, he sent a wire to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs repeatedly but received negative answers.

On August 3rd, the Soviet Union sent a withdrawal order by end of August to the Japanese consulate due to the annexation of the Soviet Union and Lithuania.

Frustrated of being powerless, Sugihara eventually made a decision to issue visas without the approval of Japanese government.
The announcement of visa issuance was made public to the Jews who were longing for it desperately. Overjoyed, the people embraced and held each other, overwhelmed by the hope of brighter future, however slight it maybe.

From that day on, Sugihara frantically signed visas from dawn till night, signing no less than hundred of visas a day. To improve efficiency, he stopped numbering and collecting a commission, and his wife helped his work as well. During this event, the Japanese government sent him wires warning to stop issuing visas unconditionally, but he carried on.

It was August 28, at last he had to close the consular agent in Kaunas, so he put a posting to let know his whereabouts on the door of building and moved to a hotel with his wife. Of course, Jews came to the hotel as well and Sugihara went on issuing visas with whatever paper is available to write. The morning of September 1st after the departure limit, Sugihara and his wife were in a train for Berlin, still signing visas for some Jews aboard the train.

After his return to Japan, he left the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The reason of his departure is not certain, but it maybe due to the department restructuring by the headquarters and a punishment to his unauthorized visa issuance.

Decades after the event, in Showa 43 (1968), a councilor of Israeli Embassy contacted Sugihara and told him that he was in search of this man for 28 years, after being saved by his visa.

Chiune Sugihara was later decorated for his achievement at the memorial hall in Jerusalem commemorating foreigners who rescued Jews. Furthermore, in Showa 60 (1985), the Israel government distinguished Chiune Sugihara as a righteous persona dedicating his work for the people. Incidentally, he was the first Japanese recipient for this commemoration.

Chiune Sugihara quietly passed away at a hospital in Kamakura city in July 31, 1986. He was 86 years old.

End