Israelis give letter of thanks to daughter of Japanese man who helped save Jews during WWII

TOKYO -- An Israeli legislator and Israel's ambassador to Japan presented a letter of appreciation on May 22 to a 91-year-old Japanese woman, whose father saved the lives of many Jewish refugees during World War II without regard for the dangers he faced.

Teruko Kotsuji, the second daughter of Setsuzo Kotsuji, a scholar of Hebrew culture, was presented with the letter at a nursing home in Tokyo by Zvi Hauser, a member of the Knesset (Israel's parliament) and chairman of the Israel-Japan Parliamentary Friendship Group, and Israeli Ambassador to Japan Gilad Cohen.

In 1940, many European Jews fled Nazi Germany's Holocaust to Japan on visas issued by diplomat Chiune Sugihara. However, because they were on short-term visas, they feared deportation back to Europe. Setsuzo approached the authorities and obtained permission for Jews to extend their stay in Japan and assisted them in traveling to the U.S. and other countries. It is said that thousands of Jews were saved as a result.

Because the Japanese government at the time was allied with Germany, Setsuzo was apparently detained and tortured on suspicion of spying. Nevertheless, until his death in 1973 at the age of 74, he traveled around Japan giving lectures and making other efforts to eliminate prejudice against Jews. After his death, he was buried in Jerusalem. Along with Sugihara, Setsuzo is considered a benefactor of the Jewish people.

Hauser said, "We come to say thank you on behalf of the Jewish people, and on behalf of the Israeli parliament, to formally thank and salute Kotsuji-sensei." He then added that as a second-generation holocaust survivor, he also personally wants to thank Setsuzo, and he will never forget about him.

Referring to the deeds of Sugihara and Setuzo, Cohen said, "This is, I think, one of the lessons -- and we in Israel and even Japan today are opening our hearts and minds and borders to refugees coming from Ukraine. This is the right lesson."

Upon receiving the certificate of appreciation, Teruko said, "I am very touched. I think my father would be happy too."

The presentation ceremony was made possible through the efforts of actor Jundai Yamada, who wrote a book about Setsuzo Kotsuji and is a close friend of his family.

(Japanese original by Kazuhiko Hori, Foreign News Department)