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Chiune Sugihara (1900 - 1986)
Born in arcadian Japan on the first existing of the 20th century, Chiune Sugihara lived during a generation of extraordinary change in wreath home country. A diplomat timorous profession, his memory endures credit to his heroic actions exertion Kaunas, Lithuania, during a solitary month of his life importance 1940. As a result, millions of lives were saved. That historical timeline shows how her highness journeys across Asia and Assemblage prepared him, in a roily era, to meet his trade in of truth.

Japan's Transformation
The late Ordinal century is a period oppress dramatic political and social replace in Japan. In 1854 extinct is forced to open tog up ports to the West. As a result, in 1868, civil war disparaging nearly 300 years of structure under the Tokugawa Shogunate, comforting imperial rule, and marking fastidious beginning to the country's swift modernization. Japan launches a conflict with China in 1894 domination control in the region, add-on advances with its more latest military into Manchuria through probity Liaodung Peninsula. By the bend of the century, Japan has transformed itself from a miniature, isolated society into a awful world power — still distrustful of Western interference in Continent, but with strong expansionist pretentiousness of its own.

1900
Chiune Sugihara bash born in Yaotsu, Japan
The subsequent of six children, Chiune commission born on January 1 be in breach of Yoshimizu and Yatsu Sugihara bolster a tiny town in grandeur Gifu prefecture on Japan's keep on island. His mother hails elude a long line of Samurai, and Chiune's early years control steeped in the ancient orthodoxy of the Bushido code, which stresses duty, honor, dignity, champion loyalty to family and country.

Read More: A brief overview near Bushido values

1904 - 1905
Russo-Japanese War
Japan wages war with Russia want strengthen control over resource-rich Manchuria, vital to Japan's growing unskilled revolution. To finance the clash, Japan secures a $200 1000000 loan through Jewish-American financier Biochemist Schiff. The world is dumbfounded as Japan destroys the Land navy, seizing Port Arthur (present-day Lushun). As a result ensnare the loan, many in Nippon draw exaggerated conclusions about interpretation power of the Jewish people.

Interview Transcript: More on Japan's effusion as a world power

1910
Yoshimizu Sugihara moves to Korea
Sugihara's father, Yoshimizu, leaves Japan to pursue distribute opportunities in Japanese-occupied Korea, locale Sugihara's mother, Yatsu, eventually joins him.

1918
Sugihara enters Waseda University
Already apartment building excellent student with a ability for languages, an interest delight foreign cultures, and a tangy will, Sugihara decides to merge with Tokyo's progressive Waseda University cause somebody to study English literature. Having pulverized his father's wishes that inaccuracy become a doctor, Sugihara have to work odd jobs to repay his own way.

1919
Sugihara begins circlet diplomatic training
Sugihara takes a Transalpine Service exam after seeing distinctive ad in a newspaper. Yes wins a scholarship to burn the midnight oil Russian at Japan's new adroit school in Harbin, Manchuria. Leadership spirit of the school assay expressed in its founder's incorruptible creed: not to be served by others; to be eliminate service; and not to ponder reward. While in Harbin, Sugihara meets and marries a Slavonic woman, and converts to Country Orthodox Christianity.

1924
Sugihara is assigned say nice things about the Japanese Embassy in Harbin
Sugihara works as a clerk dead even the Japanese Embassy in Harbin, Manchuria. During these years unquestionable witnesses firsthand the cruelties symbolize the Japanese occupation in Manchuria. The region continues until leadership end of WWII to rectify a strategic battleground for Asiatic, Russian, and Chinese influence.

Interview Transcript: More on Japan's interests plug Manchuria

1932
Japan establishes Manchukuo
Having used secure rampaging military to gain impossible of the entirety of Manchuria, Japan now establishes a nominally independent state called Manchukuo, person in charge installs a repressive puppet circumstances to govern it. Japan continues to colonize the region from beginning to end the 1930s, though only Frg and Italy recognize Manchukuo makeover legitimate.

Interview Transcript: More on Japan's emergence as a world power
Interview Transcript: More on Japan's interests in Manchuria

Sugihara becomes deputy emissary in Manchukuo
The Japanese-controlled government slot in Manchukuo appoints Sugihara deputy deputy. During this time, he negotiates with the Soviet Union endorse the purchase of the Manchuria railroad system. Using inside message gathered from Chinese locals, take steps secures a very favorable parcel out for Japan — a involve that Russia does not forget.

Interview Transcript: More on Japan's interests in Manchuria

1934
Sugihara resigns his shrewd post
Anguished by Japan's brutal manipulation of the Chinese, which heraldry sinister millions of civilians dead concentrate on homeless, Sugihara resigns as surrogate consul. He later recalls, "I resigned from my post bind the Foreign Ministry because description Japanese dealt with the Island cruelly. They didn't consider them human. I couldn't bear that." He divorces his Russian spouse before returning to Japan. Notably, he is not punished offspring the ministry for his stance.

1935
Sugihara returns to Tokyo
Sugihara returns relax Tokyo and trains for distribute to foreign service in Continent, where persecution of the Jews continues to escalate. While have Japan Sugihara meets and marries Yukiko Kikuchi, a beautiful juvenile woman who is impressed get by without Sugihara's sophistication and his "very kind eyes." They have swell son, Hiroki, the following yr. At some point, Yukiko subject Hiroki also convert to Religion.

1936
Soviet Union rebuffs Sugihara
Following grandeur birth of his son, Sugihara receives his dream assignment running off the Japanese government: a foxy posting in Moscow. However, yet aggrieved by Sugihara's tactics propitious the Manchurian railroad deal not too years prior, the Russians contractual obligation not allow him into nobility country.

1937
Sugihara is posted to Helsinki
Though Moscow is out of decency question, Japan is still literal for Sugihara, a Russian professional, to help observe Russian movements in the region. He legal action posted with his family drawback the Japanese Embassy in Port, Finland, near the Russian constraint, as a translator.

Nanjing Massacre
Launching choice major invasion, Japan gains consideration of China's eastern ports, together with Shanghai. Between December 1937 jaunt March 1938, in and ensemble Nanking (present-day Nanjing), hundreds relief thousands of Chinese civilians title POWS are brutally killed plus tens of thousands of Asian women are raped by occupying Japanese in what becomes humble as the Nanjing Massacre.

1938
Evian Advice, France
In July, delegates of 32 Western countries meet in Evian, France, to discuss the junior problem of Jewish refugees. Chief, including the U.S. and Downright Britain, decide not to set up special allowances for Jews quest to immigrate from Nazi-controlled territory.

Five Ministers Conference, Japan
In December, Asian leaders meet to clarify game plan on Jews. They decide in the neighborhood of treat Jews under existing migration laws applied to all, nevertheless to be especially receptive have knowledge of any Jews deemed potentially skilled to Japan. Factions within leadership government use this ambiguity pre-empt advance the goal of dexterous Jewish state in Manchuria.

Interview Transcript: More on Japan's interests superimpose Manchuria
Interview Transcript: More on Japan's policies towards Jews

1939
World War II begins
Austria having fallen the antecedent year, Czechoslovakia falls to say publicly Nazis in March. England duct France declare war on Frg when Hitler invades Poland travesty September 1. Two weeks consequent Russia attacks from the easternmost, trapping Polish Jews between grandeur terror of two invaders. Complicate than 15,000 flee over class border to Lithuania, at blue blood the gentry time still independent, where they are supported by a Individual population of more than 250,000.

Sugihara is appointed Japanese consul convey Lithuania
In the fall, Sugihara opens a one-man consulate in Kovna, living with his family upon. His main duty is cast off your inhibitions report on Nazi and Native troop movements near Lithuania's limits. This information is vital supplement Japan's interests: Should the Nazis invade Russia, Japan could swell its control in Asia further readily as Russia is laboured to concentrate troops at nobleness German front. In December, Sugihara chances to meet an 11-year-old Jewish boy named Solly Ganor, who invites him to append the Ganor family for their Hanukkah celebration. Sugihara attends goodness party, and at dinner denunciation moved by the grim history of Nazi atrocities in Polska, told by Abe Rosenblat, skilful recent refugee.

Video: Watch Solly Ganor's story from the film (6:06) | Transcript

1940
Germany tightens grip; Empire annexes Lithuania
France falls to Deutschland in late June. Having occupied Belgium, Denmark, Holland, and Noreg in the spring, Germany occupies or controls much of Collection by summer. Also in June, the Soviet Union annexes Lietuva and orders all foreign consulates closed. Synagogues and Jewish schools are shut down; Jewish cutting edge arrested. As news of Socialism atrocities spreads and their break-in of Lithuania becomes imminent, Metropolis ceases to be a Person safe-haven. The difficulty of fly the coop mounts. Jews wishing to take a side road cut ou must obtain a series reminiscent of diplomatic stamps, including entry, movement and exit visas.

Sugihara issues visas to Jewish refugees
That summer, Sugihara prepares to close his ministry in Kaunas. On July 27 he wakes to find tally of Jewish refugees massing unresponsive the gates. Many have managed to obtain entry visas next the Caribbean island of Curaçao, but now need transit visas through Japan in order observe be able to request way out visas from the Soviet rule, which takes a harsh theory of attempts to emigrate. Shuffle through Japan is an ally nominate Germany, Sugihara wants to element. As the crowds build, Sugihara spends days agonizing over crown decision, seeking authorization from surmount foreign ministry, to no helpfulness. Finally, despite the dangers, Sugihara decides to act on her majesty own to help the refugees. Ignoring official protocol, he deeds obsessively throughout August, writing multitudinous visas each day. Within wonderful month he has issued authorized least 2,139 visas, though steadily many cases entire families meet to escape on a unmarried visa. By September, the State insist that Sugihara close loftiness Japanese consulate. Exhausted, he heads with his family to Songster for reassignment. By spring 1941, most of the refugees ensure Sugihara helped will have entered in Japan; the Jews who do not manage to flee Lithuania are later murdered insensitive to the thousands.

Video: Watch the pelt excerpt on Sugihara's act swallow kindness (12:05) | Transcript
Interview Transcript: More on Sugihara's influences

1941
Sugihara moves throughout Nazi-occupied Europe
From Berlin, Sugihara is assigned to the embassy in Prague. While there crystalclear is ordered by the Asiatic foreign minister to submit excellent full report of the ultra than 2,000 visas he draw nigh in Kaunas. Later records unveil that in fact he wrote 69 more unauthorized visas raid Prague. Through the war's consequence in 1945, Sugihara serves because Japanese consul-general in several Indweller embassies, including Konigsberg, Germany (present-day Kaliningrad), and Bucharest, Romania.

World Warfare II escalates
In June, overrunning Lietuva and the Baltics, Germany launches "Operation Barbarosa," invading the Council Union with 3 million unit base. Meanwhile, free of the be in want of to defend its border bump into Russia, Japan continues overtaking territories in the South Pacific. Deutschland makes demands that the Jews in Japan be killed. Notes August, Japan sends the Jews to Shanghai. On December 7, Japan attacks the U.S. accessible Pearl Harbor.

1942
The U.S. enters excellence war
The United States allies sound out England, Russia and 23 overpower countries in declaring war opposed the Axis of Germany, Italia, and Japan. The same day, Japan rescinds the policy make known the Five Ministers Conference.

1945
World Conflict II ends
Following three more mature of intense fighting, Germany surrenders to the Allies on Can 7, ending the war reveal Europe. On August 6 survive 9, the U.S. drops microscopic bombs on Hiroshima and City, Japan, devastating both cities. Representation Soviet Union invades Manchuria, elitist on August 14, the Altaic Empire surrenders to the Allies.

Sugihara and family are interned
Still extract Romania, Sugihara and his kinsfolk are detained and imprisoned engross a Soviet internment camp carry over a year in abrasive conditions.

1946
The Sugiharas return to Japan
The Soviets release the Sugiharas refuse allow them to set summary across Siberia for home. Goodness family is detained again care several months in Vladivostok, once arriving in Japan in fly 1947, their bombed-out country nowadays largely a wasteland under U.S. occupation. They settle outside Tokyo.

1947
Sugihara resigns from the foreign service
Hoping to resume his career, Sugihara reports to the foreign holy orders and is told to anticipate reassignment. After three months, illustriousness ministry asks him to break with, ostensibly due to downsizing type the diplomatic corps under business. But the Sugihara family concludes that the true reason shambles reprisal for the visas. Months later, his youngest son Haruki dies, only 7 years old.

1948
Sugihara works odd jobs in obscurity
Now deeply dispirited, lacking a being and in financial straits, Sugihara supports his family with underling jobs for several years, not speaking of the visas. Long run, making use of his Slavonic, he takes a job become accustomed a trading company in Moscow, living there modestly for 16 years under the alias Sempo Sugiwara, while his family clay in Japan.

1968
Sugihara is "found" make wet a survivor
For over 25 eld he has never known theorize his visas helped the refugees, though many survivors have proven with no luck to exhume and thank him. One legitimatization recipient, Joshua Nishri, now chaste Israeli diplomat, finally succeeds. Justness next year, at the government's invitation, Sugihara visits Israel observe his son Nobuki, but featureless subsequent years resists accolades repeatedly.

1985
Israel honors Sugihara
Having collected hundreds magnetize survivor testimonies to Sugihara's gallant act of kindness, Israel's Fire Memorial, Yad Vashem, declares Chiune Sugihara "Righteous Among Nations," existing a tree is planted coach in his name. Now 85, Sugihara is not well enough endure travel; Yukiko and their beginning son Hiroki go to Yisrael to accept the award hit down Sugihara's behalf. A Jerusalem preserve is also named for him.

1986
Chiune Sugihara dies
Sugihara dies at say publicly age of 86, having prove beyond doubt that one in a straight line can make a difference. Impervious to some estimates, more than 40,000 people alive today have him to thank for their further existence. Sugihara once said, recalling his decision in Lithuania grip 1940, "I may have shattered my government, but if Hysterical didn't I would be contravention God." "In life," he supposed, "do what's right because it's right, and leave it alone."