Emerging Heroes: Wwii-Era Diplomats, Jewish Refugees, and Escape to Japan - Paperback

by Akira Kitade (Author), Kuniko Katz (Translator), Donna Ratajczak (Editor)

Seven haunting portraits of WWII refugees motivated Akira Kitade to identify the individuals portrayed. Were they among the thousands rescued by Chiune Sugihara's life-saving Japanese transit visas? In this account of his investigation, Kitade uncovers more saviors, including the Dutch diplomat Jan Zwartendijk, and provides new insights about Sugihara visas.

Author Biography

Akira Kitade received a BA in French Literature from Keio University in 1966. Between 1966 and 2004, he worked for the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) and was stationed in Geneva, Dallas, and Seoul. Kitade retired from JNTO in 2004. Since then, he has published several books, including "Visas of Life and the Epic Journey" (2014). He received a 2017 Foreign Minister Commendation for the promotion of mutual understanding between Japan and Jewish society.