What day is it today: July 31 | nippon.com

“Visa for life” issued Chiune Sugihara, who helped Jews, died

1986 (Showa 61)Former diplomat Chiune Sugihara, who is known for issuing transit visas to Japan to Jews suffering from persecution by Nazi Germany and helping them to defect, has died. he is 86 years old. In 1940, during World War II, Mr. Sugihara, who was assigned to the Japanese Consulate in Lithuania as acting consul, is credited with saving the lives of 6,000 Jews by issuing visas against the directives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. After his return, he was forced to resign from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, accused of “resisting orders”. In 1968, one of the Sugihara visa recipients, a counselor at the Israeli Embassy in Japan, located Mr. Sugihara and met him again. His humanitarian deeds, even though he was prepared to lose his job, were admired around the world. It was only on October 10, 2000, 14 years after his death, that his honor was restored by the Japanese government.

Related article

Other events

In response to the intention of GHQ, national civil servants are denied the right to strike

1948 (Showa 23)The Cabinet of Hitoshi Ashida promulgates Cabinet Order No. 201, which denies the right to collective bargaining and the right to strike of the National Public Service Workers’ Union. The measure was taken in response to a letter sent by Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces, Douglas MacArthur, to Prime Minister Ashida, suggesting a ban on industrial action by civil servants. Of the three labor rights guaranteed by the Constitution of Japan, only the right to organize was recognized, and the right to bargain and the right to dispute were taken away. In order to prevent the rise of communist forces, the General Headquarters of the Allied Forces (GHQ) put the brakes on democratization.

Emperor and Empress visit Meiji Jingu for the first time since World War II

1952 (Showa 27)For the first time since the end of World War II, the Emperor and Empress visited Meiji Jingu (Shibuya Ward, Tokyo), where Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken are enshrined. In April 1945, at the end of the Pacific War, the main shrine was destroyed by an air raid by the US military. It is a temporary hall when Their Majesties visit the shrine for the first time. The main shrine was rebuilt in 1958 with donations from all over Japan.

Related article

NTV acquires a preliminary license ahead of NHK

1952 (Showa 27)Nippon Television, founded by Matsutaro Shoriki (1885-1969), was the first company to obtain a preliminary license for television broadcasting ahead of NHK. Main broadcast started on August 28, 1953.

Tokyo Olympics Silver in judo mixed team

2021 (Reiwa 3)At the Tokyo Olympics, Takaharu Furukawa won the bronze medal in the men’s individual archery event, following his group win, and the silver medal in the new judo combined team event.

Related article