Yukiko Sugihara (1913–2008)

Sugihara was a Japanese diplomat in Lithuania. While serving as a diplomat his life turned upside down due to WW II breaking out. Defing orders from the Japanese government he issued over 6,000 transit visas which allowed Jews to leave the country and flea to safety. Sugihara returned to Japan where he was dismissed from government service and disgraced for the rest of his life. It was only after his death that his heroics became known. The book is written by his wife, and this is a little show more known part of WWII history.

Also, watch the PBS documentary entitled Sugihara: Conspiracy of Kindness. show less

Chiune Sugihara saved thousands of Jewish refugees by issuing thousands of visas so they could get a Japanese transit across Russia.
*Our library also contains a CD witch contains Narration by Tom Osborne, poetry by Sugihara's wife and an original score performed by an international ensemble.

"...Sugihara was the Japanese consul to Lithuania when the Nazis invaded Poland, driving waves of Jewish refugees east into Lithuania. Their only hope of escape was a Japanese transit, which would permit them to travel across Russia. In 1939, in violation of direct orders from the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sugihara began visas to the Jewish refugees, thereby saving thousands of innocent lives. Israel would eventually honor Sugihara as Righteous Among the Nations. The CD, which show more was produced for WYLN by Laughing Buddha Music, tells Sugihara's dramatic story through narration, poetry, music and photographs. Based on a live multimedia performance in Carnegie Hall in 2007..." show less

Un témoignage (direct et indirect) d'un moment héroïque et d'une époque paradoxale. Assurément, cet épisode où un diplomate d'un pays allié au premier titre du IIIème Reich prend sur lui de permettre à des réfugiés juifs de transiter par le Japon ( pas encore en guerre) est passionnant. Le style, et l'amour, de sa femme, tout en détachement et sobriété ajoutent encore à l'intérêt de ce témoignage.