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Emerging Heroes: WWII-Era Diplomats, Jewish Refugees, and Escape to Japan
Inspired by seven photographs of WWII refugees in an old album, the author embarked on a quest to uncover the story behind each portrait. Had the refugees been rescued by the diplomat Chiune Sugihara, who saved thousands of Jews from the Holocaust by providing Japanese transit visas? Searching for the identities of the people in the photographs, the author scoured historical records and interviewed numerous fascinating individuals, including Sugihara visa recipients and their descendants. While solving the mystery of the people in the photographs, the author uncovered more hero diplomats and new details about Sugihara visas. This account of the author’s investigation supports the legacy of Chiune Sugihara and highlights other WWII saviors, such as the Dutch diplomat Jan Zwartendijk.
- GenresJapan
156 pages, Paperback
Published June 21, 2022
6 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 4, 2023
Akira Kitade spent his career working for the Japan Tourism Bureau and it was while he was clearing out his desk upon retirement that he came across a 75-year-old scrapbook by his former boss filled with photographs of Jews and non-Jews fleeing the Nazis during World War II. This scrapbook would change Kitade's life and many, many other unrecognized heroes in the Chiune Suighara "visas for life" story, the subject of books, movies, and an even an upcoming symphony.
While much is known about the righteous deeds of Sugihara, who went against his superior's orders by issuing transit visas to desperate Jews from his post as Japan Consul in Lithuania at the onset of World War II, very little is known about the many other heroes that made it possible for Sugihara's transit visas to actually succeed in giving Holocaust refugees a temporary safe haven in Japan.
Since 2004 Kitade has devoted himself to tracking down other diplomats and ordinary citizens, both Japanese and European Holocaust refugees, to piece together a story that is riveting, deeply moving, and multi-generational in its scope. The photographs of the survivors and Kitade's more recent meetings with them or with their offspring, are beautiful accompaniments to this fastidiously researched book, a service of the heart that took the author around the world in search of the faces and back stories attached to government stamps, telegrams and other official documents. This is a fast read that I couldn't put down and will be of interest to anyone interested in comprehending how many heroes were actually part of the Chiune Sugihara story. Clearly, this is a work in progress. There are more survivors and more heroes to track down, and if anyone can rise to the task, it's Akira Kitade. This is his second book in this pursuit. Kitade put himself in almost every photograph with the people he met in the course of researching this book. This might make some squirm, but given that he traveled the world on his own dime to track down people who had never told their stories before, fair enough. In a charming literary voice, Kitade makes it known that, without a doubt, this is now his story too.
While much is known about the righteous deeds of Sugihara, who went against his superior's orders by issuing transit visas to desperate Jews from his post as Japan Consul in Lithuania at the onset of World War II, very little is known about the many other heroes that made it possible for Sugihara's transit visas to actually succeed in giving Holocaust refugees a temporary safe haven in Japan.
Since 2004 Kitade has devoted himself to tracking down other diplomats and ordinary citizens, both Japanese and European Holocaust refugees, to piece together a story that is riveting, deeply moving, and multi-generational in its scope. The photographs of the survivors and Kitade's more recent meetings with them or with their offspring, are beautiful accompaniments to this fastidiously researched book, a service of the heart that took the author around the world in search of the faces and back stories attached to government stamps, telegrams and other official documents. This is a fast read that I couldn't put down and will be of interest to anyone interested in comprehending how many heroes were actually part of the Chiune Sugihara story. Clearly, this is a work in progress. There are more survivors and more heroes to track down, and if anyone can rise to the task, it's Akira Kitade. This is his second book in this pursuit. Kitade put himself in almost every photograph with the people he met in the course of researching this book. This might make some squirm, but given that he traveled the world on his own dime to track down people who had never told their stories before, fair enough. In a charming literary voice, Kitade makes it known that, without a doubt, this is now his story too.
March 26, 2023
As someone who has written a book in this vain I can attest to the dedication and time it takes to complete such a project. Akira Kitade took a photo album that was gifted to him and turn it into a wonderful book telling the story of their lives before, during and after WW II. He bring just a few of the refugees who had to flee the Nazis to light in a deserving and loving way.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews