Principles of justice

Sugihara risked his career to save other peopleSome Japanese military leaders
were just scared because of the pressure from the Nazis; while other officials in the
Home Ministry were simply ambivalent. People in Tokyo were not united. He knew
that somebody would surely complain about hin in the future. But, himself thought
this would be the right thing to do. There is nothing wrong in saving many people's
lives. The spirit of humanity and philanthropy ventured him to confronting the most
difficult situation and went ahead with redoubled courage.

Principles of Benefience

Sugihara sought instructions from his foreign ministry in Tokyo. He was told
not to issue visas to anyone without proper papers, ruling out almost everyone
in the queue. Making another request to Tokyo, he was told not to ask again.
He saw human beings and he knew he could save them through his
handwriting work. Therefore, he decided to issue visas anyway. Day and night
he wrote visas. He isussed as many visas in a day as would normally be issued
in a month. Over six weeks in July and August, he worked 18-hour days,
eventually writing out by hand 2,139 transit visas. When he was asked why he
acted in this way, he said, ‘I just pitied them.’ Just one word. It is the kind of
sentiments anyone would have when he actually sees refugees face to face, begging with tears
in their eyes. He just cannot help 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. Principles of non-maleficence

In 1939, the Japanese foreign ministry dispatched Chiune Sugihara to Lithuania to

direct the consulate there. That same year, Jewish refugees from Nazi- and Soviet-
occupied Poland began streaming into Lithuania desperate to escape Europe.
Sugihara not only issued thousands of visas for them to travel to Japan, saving them
from Hitler’s advance into the country in 1941, he also arranged for many to be
settled temporarily in the Japanese city of Kobe. It’s worth noting that, of all the
Jewish communities to fall under German control during World War II, Lithuanian
Jewry had the lowest survival rate. 

Principles of Respect for Autonomy

During the Second World War, Sugihara helped about 6,000 Jews flee Europe by

issuing transit visas to them so that they could travel through Japanese territory,
risking his job and the lives of his family. Sugihara told the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
it was a matter of humanity. He did not care if he lost his job. saved 6,000 Jews
during the second world war. Over six weeks in the summer of 1940, while serving
as a diplomat in Lithuania, Chiune Sugihara defied orders from his bosses in Tokyo,
and issued several thousand visas for Jewish refugees to travel to Japan.