Official

Many of you know as "Schindler in Japan", but for those who do not know, roughly speaking, "Japanese diplomats who have issued a Japanese transit visa (commonly known as a visa for life) to Jewish refugees who are trying to escape from the Holocaust* in Lithuania, Eastern Europe during World War II and saved thousands of lives."

In fact, it is relatively recent that the name of Chiune Sugihara has become known in Japan. Since his act was contrary to the directive of the then Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, shortly after World War II, he was chased from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

For a long time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has continued to respond in a cold manner, saying that even if there was an inquiry from overseas about Chiune Sugihara, "I have never been enrolled in such a staff member."

But the Jewish people who had saved his life had never forgotten their benefits.

In 1985, the Israeli government received the Yad Baschem Prize as the first and only "justice among the nations" for the achievement of rescuing the lives of many Jewish people.

Before and after that, the name of Chiune became known in Japan, and in 1991, Mr. Muneo Suzuki, then Deputy Secretary of Foreign Affairs at the time, and Mr. Yohei Kono, then Foreign Minister of Foreign Affairs. Unfortunately, Chiune Sugihara had a long sleep in 1986.

※It is said that 195,000 of the 200,000 Jews who were in Lithuania at the time were killed. Source: 『Holocaust in Lithuania (wikipedia)』

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A lot of literary and video works related to Chiune Sugihara have been produced in the last 30 years. Please search by all means. Amazon's prime video also seems to see "Chiune Sugihara Sugihara Sugiharachiune" (starring Toshiaki Karasawa) and "List of Schindler" in 2015 (as of 2020.11).

The above image is from wikipedia

←　The location is as shown in the map on the left. Just behind Edgran, the Ainu Cultural Exchange Center is also nearby. It seems that the museum opened in March 2019.

The photo on the right is the entrance. I didn't shoot it for the purpose of an Indian restaurant, but I honestly think that there are many people who pass by without realizing it (laughs).　

When you enter, you will see a number of relics related to Chiune, but there are also many panels, and it seems to be an exhibition facility for those who do not know much about Chiune Sugihara.

You can also watch original images (18 minutes) and musical SEMPOs.

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Actually, if you search by Chiune Sugihara, you will be hit by the Sempo Museum in Chuo-ku and another "Chiune Sugihara Memorial Hall" in Gifu. (The birthplace of Senune in Yatsumotsu-cho, Gifu Prefecture)

The Sugihara Chiune Memorial Hall seems to be quite large in scale, so is the Sempo Museum like the Tokyo Annex? I thought it was, but not.

The memorial hall was set up mainly by the government, and Muneo Suzuki was appointed as the first honorary director. The facility in Chuo-ku was established by the NPO "Sugihara Chiune Life Visa" operated by relatives of Chiune Sugihara, and the history of its establishment and operation were completely different.

I haven't visited the memorial hall in Gifu, so I can't say it's definitely, but from the scale, I feel that it's more substantial in terms of materials. Admission fee is also low.

However, for Senune, who saved people's lives against the government, the memorial hall established by the government, which has been ignoring even its existence for many years, along with the restoration of the honor of Senune, and relatives set up the traces of Senune for a long time. At the museum set up to keep it in history, I feel like I want to support the latter. 。

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■Address and contact information

2nd floor of Sagami Building 2-7-9 Yaesu, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

TEL. 03-6265-1808

■Opening date and time

From 11:00 to 17:00 (in principle, Monday and Tuesday regular holidays)

For more information, please visit the official website.