This uplifting museum inside the former home of Chiune Sugihara and his family charts the story of the Japanese diplomat and his Dutch counterpart Jan Zwartendijk’s efforts to save several thousand mostly Polish Jews from the impending Holocaust with their so-called Visas for Life. Get a guided tour for the full impact and take plenty of cash for the gift shop.
Sugihara House
Open
Open 11:00 - 15:00. Closed Sat, Sun. From May 1 till October 31 Open daily 10:00 - 17:00. Sat, Sun 11:00 - 16:00.
Comments
Ralph.meyen@gmail.com
Australia
Thousands of Sugihara jews as they were subsequently called ended up in Vladivostok where they sought transport to other countries in the end Australia reluctantly agreed to accept the fleet of transport ships with over 30k Jewish migrants landing in Melbourne and establishing a new life on a new open continent where acceptance and hard work were all that was required for a "fair go mate". The book Sherazade is a testament to the courage of the last great Shogun master Sugihara long may his spirit dwell in the cosmos!
David
A very interesting house and an amazing character known as the Japanese Schindler by some. Sugihara was partly descended from the samurai was a Christian and deliberately flunked his medical exams which his father required him to sit as he really wanted to be a teacher.Most of the people he saved were not Lithuanian but Polish Jews who had fled to Kaunas and having already uprooted themselves once were more ready to flee further. In common with some other parts of occupied Europe during WW2 many of the local Jews did not take the opportunity to flee believing that the situation would settle down.