The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.
© Thomson Reuters 2018.Abe honors 'Japanese Schindler' in Lithuania
KAUNAS, Lithuania©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.
The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.
© Thomson Reuters 2018.
42 Comments
Login to comment
Daniel Naumoff
Let me say that this is the first decent move taken by Abe since he became prime-minister and hope I will not drown in minuses...
quercetum
‘Japanese Schindler,’ Japanese Hemingway, Japanese eggplant, etc, it’s as if they’d be indescribable otherwise.
maybeperhapsyes
Some may say too little too late. I do include myself in that group.
However, it's good that the man has been recognised by Abe (Japan) for the work he had done.
If there is a heaven, I hope he has a special place in it.
AgentX
If Japan (genuinely) admitted to their own mistakes and atrocities, then this gesture would be a lot more palatable. But, no. Just another photo opportunity trying to illustrate Japan as some kind of former and current driving 'peace force' in the world.
AgentX
Let's not forget that Japan was Germany's ally during the war. Fact.
Wallace Fred
100% in agreement. Keyword being 'genuinely'
Ricky Kaminski
Nice for Abesan to align with the virtues of Sugihara who was indeed a tremendously brave human being, with thousands of people alive today because of him. A side note to the story is that Sugihara actually went AGAINST orders by issuing these visas and was ostracised upon returning to Japan by the beaurocrats running the country. Not to be a cynic , but lets hope that this serves as a message for all to follow your own moral compass and not blindly follow rules from above. A poignant and valuable message perhaps for this administration. Wonder how much dissent Prime Minister Abe entertains within his own ranks? Still, official recognition for Sugihara must be viewed in a positive light.
Tom
Perhaps this will light a lamp within the mind and heart of Abe and perhaps, he might instruct his own people to sign some papers for those in need as the Jews were and to give them refugee status.
Shalom Abe-san
Dukeleto
The only person who should be receiving praise and recognition is Sugihara-san. A definite credit to the Japanese and a hero and role model to all.
Has the Japanese government of the day both publicly and privately apologised to the Sugihara family for its shameful treatment of Sugihara-san?
Have they included his incredibly brave exploits into Japanese school text books and forms part of the standard school syllabus and required reading for pupils regarding Japans involvement in WWII?
If at the very least neither of these things has yet happened the current government should be keeping as quiet as a mouse on the issue and shamefully hanging their heads low and not attempting to politically cash in on this mans street credentials!
This tells you all you need to know about a politician!
Tony W.
Chiune Sugihara was obviously a man of great personal morality and strength of character, and stands alongside Schindler and Raoul Wallenberg. Sad that, although unlike Wallenberg he made it home, he was ostracised when he got there. Someone should write his story; it would be good to know what he did with the rest of his life.
kurisupisu
Sugihara didn't follow orders?
That didn't go well for diplomats then nor does it now!
Free thinking is not encouraged in Japan.
tinawatanabe
It was Japan's policy to save the Jews. Sugihara was not a diplomat at that time, but later he was promoted to a diplomat because of this hard work to save the Jews.
Here is from the Wiki of Kiichiro Higuchi who helped tens of thousands of Jews.
"General Hideki Tojo, then Chief of staff of the Kwantung Army, assented to Higuchi's view that the German policy against the Jews was a serious humanitarian concern. Higuchi's lieutenant Norihiro Yasue advocated for the protection of Jewish refugees to General Seishiro Itagaki, which led to the establishment of the Japanese Jewish Policy Program in 1938"
smithinjapan
"I am really proud of him as Japanese."
knew it! No mention at all of the shame in what the government of the time did to him, and Abe’s relatives are included in that. Just instead takes credit for the man’s actions.
CrazyJoe
A picture is worth a thousand votes.
utorsa
Disagree. The Imperial Japanese government and the WWII Japanese public deserve praise and recognition for saving and settling thousands of Jewish refugees.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Jews_in_Kobe
Already housing a modest Jewish community by the start of World War II](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II), Kobe existed as a safe haven for thousands of Jews fleeing Europe during 1940 and 1941. At its height, the Jewish community of Kobe had thousands of residents, two synagogues, and recognition from the Japanese government. After[World War II, however, the community became greatly diminished and remains extremely small today.
The Imperial Japanese government settled and integrated Jewish refugees fleeing the Holocaust. Canada and The United States turned them away.
Many of the Jewish people turned away by Canada and The United States would die in concentration camps:
http://thechronicleherald.ca/novascotia/1174272-canada-turned-away-jewish-refugees
http://www.bbc.com/news/av/magazine-39857056/the-jewish-refugees-the-us-turned-away
Akm Muzammel Huque
Chiune Sugihara , all the people of our planet will never forget you .
utorsa
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Jews_in_Kobe
Already housing a modest Jewish community by the start of World War II, Kobe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kobe) existed as a safe haven for thousands of Jews fleeing Europe during 1940 and 1941. At its height, the Jewish community of Kobe had thousands of residents, two [synagogues, and recognition from the Japanese government. After World War II, however, the community became greatly diminished and remains extremely small today.
The Imperial Japanese government settled and integrated Jewish refugees fleeing the Holocaust. Canada and The United States turned them away.
Many of the Jewish people turned away by Canada and The United States would die in concentration camps:
http://thechronicleherald.ca/novascotia/1174272-canada-turned-away-jewish-refugees
http://www.bbc.com/news/av/magazine-39857056/the-jewish-refugees-the-us-turned-away
GW
I really hate sentences like this, enough whitewashing, just explain MORE about the history involved here!! Shine some light of the nasty bits, stop trying to push them aside with lame platitudes like the above, sadly as usual MUCH is left out.
dcog9065
A true hero and well done on honouring such a man
True blue
please keep in mind that Japan has already honored the great humanitarian by establishing a beautiful memorial park in Yaotsu Gifu Prefecture a number of years ago. I have visited this solum spot a few times and prayed for the spirit of Sugihara San. Bless him and those who pay respect to him
AgentX
But there is more to the story than your simplified (and glorified) version...
http://www.cismor.jp/en/2014/01/26/negative-views-of-the-jews-in-the-japanese-newspapers-during-world-war-ii/
utorsa
But there is more to the story than your simplified (and glorified) version...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_antisemitism_in_the_United_States
Paul Martinforeign correspondent
Sugihara was a RARE exception among Japanese diplomats and officials most who were
ready to die for the Emperor without hesitation, having been brainwashed for centuries
that Emperors were living gods !
Let's hope that Abe did this for serious motives and NOT economic ones.
smithinjapan
tinawatanabe: “It was Japan's policy to save the Jews.”
that is not true, and you know it. Some may have felt that the German “final solution” was a wee bit of a humanitarian crisis, but officially policy was to side with their allies, Nazi Germany. Hence, tina, Sugihara was forbidden from issuing visas and later destroyed for disobeying Tokyo. If it was official policy we to save Jews, why was he forbidden? And how do you support Abe on this when on the same day he recognizes this he allows working visas for refugees to end?
utorsa: “Many of the Jewish people turned away by Canada and The United States would die in concentration camps”
both nations have admitted this this is a black mark in their histories. Why can Japan not do the same?
toshiko
@utorusa: You are right. when Yosuke Matsuoka was in charge of China, Hitler asked Matsuoka to kill. all. Jews in China and Matsuoka said there is no. Jews. Then he ordered Ambassador to shiP Yudaya jin to Japan. Then the ship brought Christian ministers to China. He later said he did not lie because Jew is not Japanese language. He died with TB while waiting war criminal trial. He was the last soul enshrined in Yasukuni. After the war,, ministers returned to Japan. Several years ago,, US officials tried to find Ambassador and when he said, Matsuoka ordered, they got out from Japan. Matsuoka was the father in law of Abe's grand uncle Satoh.
Why UN avoided Matsuoka? He,, Hitler and Mussolini created Triad alliance to create WWII. Jewish people were very respected in Japan.
They helped Japanese small business men becoming big,,,, too.
AgentX
OMG there are some.. devout.. nationalists in here. If Japan was so kind and welcoming to the Jews (as they are to anyone being persecuted...); where are the thriving Jewish communities in Japan today?
voiceofokinawa
Chiune Sugihara's action in defiance of the national government's order was indeed commendable, which even PM Shinzo Abe says he can be proud of as Japanese. The Sugihara episode is a typical example in which the government is in the wrong completely while a whistle blower against the government can be absolutley right.
ThePBot
Yes. Oskar Schindler did good during the time his country did bad. Chiune Sugihara is a great comparison with him indeed.
toshiko
It must be cold there. Mrs. Abe must have forgotten bringing her Morinaga caramel candies and chocolate. She looks like frozen. Somehow Abe is holding his pen without gloves.
kurisupisu
Today, Kobe has the legacy of Jewish immigrants' entrepreneurship in the different famous food businesses to be found here.
Olegek
By the way, when Nazi come to Lithuania, Lithuanians immediately started to hunt Jews
Most Jews in Lithuania were murdered not by German Nazi but by local people
utorsa
Compassionate Japanese hosts, as well as organized and well financed Jewish aid, made the Jews of Kobe some of the most fortunate of WWII.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Jews_in_Kobe
utorsa
Approximately 24,000 Jews escaped the Holocaust by immigrating through Japan or living under direct Japanese rule (in cities including Shanghai) by the policies surrounding Japan’s pro Jewish attitude.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_settlement_in_the_Japanese_Empire
Wallace Fred
So the japanese government at the time was favorable to europeans but nor fellow Asians under similar conditions? What warped reasoning!!!
never2late
AgentX. Didn't you read the article?
"Chiune Sugihara was serving as Japanese consul in Kaunas, then capital of Lithuania, when he disobeyed his superiors and issued Japanese visas to Jews fleeing Nazi-occupied Poland despite his country being a close ally of Nazi Germany."
never2late
quercetum What's your point? There is a similarity in Sugihara's actions and Schindler's.
never2late
Olegek. "Most Jews in Lithuania were murdered not by German Nazi but by local people." Yes, but it was supervised by the Nazis , and would it have happened had the Nazis not "come to Lithuania?'
AgentX
You are missing the point never2late...
utorsa
From 1943, Jews in Shanghai shared a "Designated Area for Stateless Refugees" of 40 blocks along with 100,000 Chinese residents. Most Jews fared as well, often better than other Shanghai residents. The ghetto remained open and free of barbed wire and Jewish refugees could acquire passes to leave the zone. However it was bombed just months before the end of the war by Allied planes seeking to destroy a radio transmitter within the city, with the consequential loss of life to both Jews and Chinese in the ghetto.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_settlement_in_the_Japanese_Empire
Olegek
No it was started before Germans took country under any control
It was a local initiative