BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//PYVOBJECT//NONSGML Version 1//EN
BEGIN:VEVENT
UID:events.uid.2017@www.discovernikkei.org
DTSTART:20091025T000000Z
DTEND:20091025T000000Z
DESCRIPTION:Forty-five years after the Soviet invasion of Lithuania\, he wa
 s asked his reasons for issuing visas to the Jews. Sugihara explained that
  the refugees were human beings\, and that they simply needed help. As Sug
 ihara stated in a conversation with a visitor to his home near Tokyo Bay t
 hat year:\n\n&ldquo\;You want to know about my motivation\, don't you? Wel
 l. It is the kind of sentiments anyone would have when he actually sees re
 fugees face to face\, begging with tears in their eyes. He cannot just hel
 p but sympathize with them. Among the refugees were the elderly and women.
  They were so desperate that they went so far as to kiss my shoes\, Yes\, 
 I actually witnessed such scenes with my own eyes. Also\, I felt at that t
 ime\, that the Japanese government did not have any uniform opinion in Tok
 yo. Some Japanese military leaders were just scared because of the pressur
 e from the Nazis\; while other officials in the Home Ministry were simply 
 ambivalent.&nbsp\;\n\nPeople in Tokyo were not united. I felt it silly to 
 deal with them. So\, I made up my mind not to wait for their reply. I knew
  that somebody would surely complain about me in the future. But\, I mysel
 f thought this would be the right thing to do. There is nothing wrong in s
 aving many people's lives....The spirit of humanity\, philanthropy...neigh
 borly friendship...with this spirit\, I ventured to do what I did\, confro
 nting this most difficult situation---and because of this reason\, I went 
 ahead with redoubled courage."\n\nHosted by the Japanese American Museum o
 f San Jose.
DTSTAMP:20240419T171445Z
SUMMARY:Righteous Among Nations: Honoring the Memory of Chiune Sugihara
URL:/en/events/2009/10/25/righteous-among-nations-honoring-the-memory-of-ch
 /
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR