In 1939 Sugihara was sent to Lithuania, where he ran the consulate. There he was soon confronted with Jews fleeing from German-occupied Poland.<\/p>\n
Three times Sugihara cabled his embassy asking for permission to issue visas to the refugees. The cable from K. Tanaka at the foreign ministry read: \u201cConcerning transit visas requested previously stop advise absolutely not to be issued any traveler not holding firm end visa with guaranteed departure ex japan stop no exceptions stop no further inquires expected stop.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sugihara talked about the refusal with his wife, Yukiko, and his children and decided that despite the inevitable damage to his career, he would defy his government.<\/p>\n
Mr. Zimbardo calls the capacity to act differently the \u201cheroic imagination,\u201d a focus on one\u2019s duty to help and protect others. This ability is exceptional, but the people who have it are often understated. Years after the war, Sugihara spoke about his actions as natural: \u201cWe had thousands of people hanging around the windows of our residence,\u201d\u00a0he said<\/a>\u00a0in a 1977 interview. \u201cThere was no other way.\u201d<\/p>\n Read it all<\/a>.<\/p>\n The #Japanese<\/a> man who saved 6,000 jews with his handwriting. — #Lithuania 🇱🇹 #Lituanie #FreedomFighters (@Lithuania) October 16, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n
What the astonishing Chiune #Sugihara<\/a> teaches us about moral heroism.https:\/\/t.co\/Tv4gPnFu2T<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/IGNiBNV9RT<\/a><\/p>\n