About

He is best known for defying orders from his superiors and issuing thousands of transit visas to Jews who were fleeing Nazi-occupied Europe. These visas allowed the recipients to travel through the Japanese Empire, which included safe passage through the Soviet Union, ultimately saving them from the Holocaust. Sugihara's heroic actions went against his government's policy, as Japan was allied with Nazi Germany and had strict immigration policies. Despite this, he chose to follow his conscience and help those in need. Between July and August 1940, Sugihara tirelessly worked day and night to issue as many visas as possible, often signing them even when his office was closed. Sugihara's visas were not only issued to individuals but also to entire families, resulting in an estimated 6,000 Jews being saved. Many of these individuals eventually resettled in places like Japan, Australia, and the United States, where they built new lives and had families of their own. After the war, Sugihara faced difficulties and stigma in his career due to his disobedience to his superiors' orders. He worked various jobs, including selling light bulbs, before finding employment as a translator and interpreter. He lived a humble life and died in 1986, mostly unknown outside a small circle of Holocaust survivors he had saved. It was only after his death that Sugihara's story received wider recognition. In 1985, he was recognized as "Righteous Among the Nations" by Yad Vashem, Israel's official memorial to the victims of the Holocaust. His brave actions have since been commemorated and celebrated by various organizations and governments worldwide. Chiune Sugihara's courageous decision to prioritize human lives over orders and policies has made him an inspiring figure and a symbol of humanity's capacity for compassion and heroism, even in the darkest of times. His story serves as a reminder of the importance of standing up for what is right, even when faced with seemingly insurmountable obstacles.