Celebrating the Japanese Schindler who saved thousands of Jewish lives

Eighty years ago this summer, in July 1941, Nate and Susan Bluman stepped off a boat in Vancouver's port. It had been a perilous journey for the young Jewish couple, who'd escaped from German-occupied Poland to Lithuania, which was then occupied by the Russians.

From there, they received transit visas thanks to a Japanese diplomat named Chiune Sugihara.

Sugihara is often referred to as the "Japanese Schindler." He helped more than 2,000 Jews escape Europe, via Vladivostok and Japan, during the early years of the Second World War. In doing so, Sugihara, who was helped by his wife, disobeyed orders from Tokyo—and he never spoke publicly about his actions until the 1980s.

Since then, the Sugiharas have been celebrated by the global Jewish community and regarded as righteous gentiles by Yad Vashem. He's been the focus of films, books, commemorative gardens and statues. This week, the Japanese department store Takashimaya is mounting a special travelling exhibit to showcase Sugihara and the descendents of those he saved.

One of those descendents is George Bluman, son of Nate and Susan. George joins today to share his family's story, explain why he lent his father's visa to the new exhibit and argue why Sugihara's name should be better known than it is.

What we talked about:

• Learn more about the Takashimaya exhibit at chiune-sugihara.jp/en
• Browse the full list of those saved by Sugihara at secure.math.ubc.ca
• Watch "A Decision of One Saves Thousands: The Courage of Chiune Sugihara" by the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies on YouTube

The CJN Daily is written and hosted by Ellin Bessner (@ebessner on Twitter). Victoria Redden is the producer. Michael Fraiman is the executive producer. Our theme music is by Dov Beck-Levine. Our title sponsor is Metropia. Find more great Jewish podcasts at thecjn.ca.