Chiune Sugihara

CHIUNE SUGIHARA
Official Medal 2004/5764 in the "Visas for Life" Series

Chiune (Sempo) Sugihara was appointed Consul-General of Japan in Kovno, the temporary capital of Lithuania at the time. On June 15, 1940, the Soviets invaded Lithuania, while most of Europe was already in the hands of the Nazis. Chiune Sugihara and his wife Yukiko risked their lives, against orders of the Japanese authorities, to provide thousands of Jews with the Japanese visas they would need in order to escape from Lithuania by crossing the Soviet Union on their way to freedom in Curacao and Dutch Guiana. Chiune Sugihara was eventually dismissed from his diplomatic post by the Japan but there may be over 40,000 who owe their lives to this righteous couple. In 1985, Sugihara was recognized by Yad Vashem as a Righteous among the Nations.

Obverse: Portrait of Chiune Sugihara, around the border, "Chiune Sugihara" above in English, below in Hebrew and to the left, in Japanese. In the border on the right, "Japan".

Reverse: Sugihara's signature, as it appeared on the visas he issued to save the people, the two official Japanese Consular stamps that were added to the visa, "Visas for Life" in English around the left-hand border and in Hebrew, around the right-hand border. Below, "Kovno Lithuania 1940".

Edge: Israel State Emblem, "State of Israel" in Hebrew and English, metal and serial number.

Designer: Igal Gabbai.

Engraving: Tidhar Dagan.

Mint: Hecht, Israel.