10/02/23 21:11:15
In 1939, Japanese diplomat Chiune Sugihara was stationed in Lithuania during one of the darkest times in human history.
He saved thousands of Polish Jews from the Nazis by issuing transit visas to them.
Refusing to obey his own government, he wrote visas day and night.
He even wrote them quickly by hand and passed them through a train window as he left Lithuania.
His bold and extraordinary act was largely unknown and unsung for many years ― until people who had been rescued by Sugihara began to tell his story.
Soon, his courage and greatness were celebrated all over the world, catching the attention of the mass media and inspiring several authors to write books on the actions of the "Japanese Schindler."
Meanwhile, the Israeli government was gathering names of "courageous rescuers" to repay their efforts.
As one of the ways to express its gratitude, the government decided to plant trees in their honor.
When Sugihara's courage came to light, Israeli officials immediately made plans to plant cherry trees in his memory.
But suddenly, officials changed the order.
They decided that cherry trees were not an appropriate symbol for his extraordinary actions.
Instead, they chose cedar trees, deciding that cedar was stronger.
It was only after they planted the trees that the officials learned that "Sugihara" in Japanese means ... cedar trees.
杉原千畝氏の有名なポーランド系ユダヤ人に対するビザ発行の話です。
なるべく厳密に訳して（直訳して）頂けたら嬉しいです。宜しくお願い致します。