Chiune Sugihara
Chiune Sugihara: A Compassionate Hunter
“Even a hunter cannot kill a bird which flies to him for refuge.” During an interview this was Chiune Sugihara’s response to the question of why he would risk his career and life to rescue people he had no connection to. Chiune Sugihara, a Japanese citizen, was responsible for the second largest rescue of the Jewish people during WWII ("Chiune Sugihara”). Japan was part of the central powers of the war, this included Nazi Germany. Japan was on the side of the country that was responsible for the extermination of millions of innocent people, including Jews. While the world was in political and ethical turmoil, Chiune Sugihara looked beyond the needs of himself and his family, to the ever present needs …show more content…
The Japanese cultural has many characteristics that make it unique, including the fundamental virtues that are taught within society. These virtues include having giri (duty and responsibility), gambatte (inner strength and resourcefulness), and haji wo kakete (don't bring shame on the family). Moreover, Sugihara came from a middle class samurai family that stresses the code of the samurai, Bushido (Duiker). This code stressed important morals, such as justice, honor and helping those that cannot help themselves. All of these numerous variables contributed to Sugihara’s imperative decision, should he help the Jews and risk death and the downfall of his political career (Gold). Destruction, demoralizing actions, and death were the norm in the 1940s with Hitler leading the mass genocide of the Jewish people. Regardless, Chiune Sugihara not only defied his government, he defied Nazi Germany itself. Sugihara allowed his conscious to take over, growing up he was taught to help the helpless and to fulfill his duty has a human being. When the time came in July 1940 he did something that was puzzling to the war torn world, he chose life over
“Even a hunter cannot kill a bird which flies to him for refuge.” During an interview this was Chiune Sugihara’s response to the question of why he would risk his career and life to rescue people he had no connection to. Chiune Sugihara, a Japanese citizen, was responsible for the second largest rescue of the Jewish people during WWII ("Chiune Sugihara”). Japan was part of the central powers of the war, this included Nazi Germany. Japan was on the side of the country that was responsible for the extermination of millions of innocent people, including Jews. While the world was in political and ethical turmoil, Chiune Sugihara looked beyond the needs of himself and his family, to the ever present needs …show more content…
The Japanese cultural has many characteristics that make it unique, including the fundamental virtues that are taught within society. These virtues include having giri (duty and responsibility), gambatte (inner strength and resourcefulness), and haji wo kakete (don't bring shame on the family). Moreover, Sugihara came from a middle class samurai family that stresses the code of the samurai, Bushido (Duiker). This code stressed important morals, such as justice, honor and helping those that cannot help themselves. All of these numerous variables contributed to Sugihara’s imperative decision, should he help the Jews and risk death and the downfall of his political career (Gold). Destruction, demoralizing actions, and death were the norm in the 1940s with Hitler leading the mass genocide of the Jewish people. Regardless, Chiune Sugihara not only defied his government, he defied Nazi Germany itself. Sugihara allowed his conscious to take over, growing up he was taught to help the helpless and to fulfill his duty has a human being. When the time came in July 1940 he did something that was puzzling to the war torn world, he chose life over