Chiune Sugihara-related events
As November is Holocaust Education Month, the Embassy of Japan held three events related to Mr. Chiune Sugihara, who was Vice-Consul of Japan in Kaunas, Lithuania at the outbreak of World War II. He issued transit visas to Jewish refugees which eventually saved over 6000 lives.
- Film screening “Persona Non Grata” on November 8th
- One-Man-Show “Decision: Visa of Life – Sempo Sugihara Story” and a lecture on November 13th
- Film screening “Persona Non Grata” and a cocktail reception on November 21st
Mr. Chiune Sugihara
**Chiune Sugihara was bestowed the honour of "Righteous among Nations" by the Israeli government in 1985. On 10 October 2000, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of his birth, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan established a commemorative plaque at its Diplomatic Record Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, proclaiming him “a courageous diplomat of humanity”.
1. On November 8th, a film screening of “Persona Non Grata” was held at the Embassy. Director of Information and Culture Centre, Counsellor Futagi gave opening remarks and introduced Mr. Sugihara and explained the background of the story.
About 70 people participated to this event and many commented that they were moved by Mr. Sugihara’s courageous act.
Opening remarks by Counsellor Futagi, Director of Information and Culture Centre
Film “Persona Non Grata”
2. On November 13th, at Kailash Mital Theatre, Carleton University, One-Man-Show “Decision: Visa of Life – Sempo Sugihara Story” by a Japanese actor, Mr. Shingo Misawa, was co-hosted by the Embassy of Japan and Centre for Holocaust Education and Scholarship (CHES) at Carleton University in association with Israeli Embassy and Lithuanian Embassy in Canada.
Mr. Misawa has been performing this piece more than 250 times since 2006 throughout Japan, the United States, and also Lithuania, to pass on Sugihara’s legacy to future generations.
Prior to the show, Ambassador Monji and Ms. Mina Cohn, Director of CHES made opening remarks, and Mr. Barel Rodal, son of one of the survivors who were saved by Sugihara’s visas, gave a lecture and talked about the historical background of his family’s experience. At the following question and answer session, other survivor’s children also shared their families’ stories.
There were more than 180 people that attended and offered a standing ovation to Mr. Misawa for his powerful performance. Mr. Misawa went on to do another show in Toronto, and he will play in Australia this December.
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Ambassador Monji delivering his opening remarks |
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Ms. Mina Cohn delivering her opening remarks |
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Lecture by Mr. Barel Rodal |
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One-Man-Show “Decision: Visa of Life – Sempo Sugihara Story” by Mr. Shingo Misawa |
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Mr. Misawa conversing with audience after the performance |
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(From Left) Ambassador Monji, Mrs. Rodal, Mr. Misawa, Mr. Rodal, Ms. Cohn and Mrs. Monji |
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(From Left) Facilitators of Mr. Misawa’s Canadian tour, Mr. James Matsumoto and Ms. Chako Setoyama, Mr. Misawa, Mrs. Monji and Ambassador Monji |
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3. On November 21st, the Embassy of Japan, the Embassy of Israel, and the Embassy of Lithuania collaborated together to present a private film screening of the film “Persona Non Grata”. Guests had the opportunity to sample Japanese sake and sushi rolls, as well as wine that was provided by the Lithuanian Embassy and kosher wine and Israeli snacks from the Israeli Embassy during a welcome reception.
In their opening remarks, Ambassador Monji, Ambassador Rafael Barak of Israel, and Chargé d'affaires Julijus Rakitskis of Lithuania, welcomed esteemed guests and children of Sugihara visa recipients.
Finally, Mrs. Bassy Mendelsohn, the granddaughter of a survivor who was issued a visa by Mr. Sugihara, spoke of the long and arduous journey her grandfather made fleeing to Canada. Ms. Mendelsohn noted that she, her family members and thousands of others would not be alive if not for this one man’s actions.
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Guests enjoy Israeli and Japanese food |
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Ambassador and Mrs. Monji speak with Ms. Mina Cohn, Director of the Centre for Holocaust Education and Scholarship, Carleton University |
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Chargé d’affaires Rakitskis |
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(From Left) H.E. Rafael Barak, H.E. Kenjiro Monji, Mr. Julijus Rakitskis |
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(Back from Left) H.E. Carlos Gómez-Múgica Sanz, H.E. Tony Negus, H.E. Rafael Barak, H.E. Kenjiro Monji, Mr. Julijus Rakitskis, Mr. A.G. Shaharudin, Mr. Berel Rodal
(Front from Left) Mrs. Mina Cohn, Mrs. Marina Negus, Mrs. Etsuko Monji, H.E. Dato' Aminahtun Karim Shaharudin, Mrs. Alti Rodal |
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(From Left) Rabbi Chaim Mendelsohn, Mr. Julijus Rakitskis, H.E. Rafael Barak, H.E. Kenjiro Monji, Mrs. Etsuko Monji, Mrs. Bassy Mendelsohn |
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