The Sempo Project

Welcome to Project Super Japanese !

With a history of over 2,000 years, Japan has produced many great people. However, I think one of the realities is that there is a lack of focus on Japanese greats who are more famous overseas than in Japan. We have begun to collectively refer to these Japanese greats as "Super Japanese" and are working to utilize the historical assets they left behind in the present day. One such person is Chiune ‘Sempo’ Sugihara, who issued more than 6,000 "visas for life" to Jewish refugees during the war. In Japanese, we call him Chiune Sugihara, but at that time, Jews called him Sempo. In order to cooperate with the family of Mr. Chiune Sugihara, a representative of Super Japanese, and to honor his achievements for a long time, we are working to spread the spirit of Sempo Sugihara through the Sugihara Chiune Sempo Museum in Yaesu, Tokyo. And now, we have created an online guide of this museum by his family.

Especially for the survivors who survived with the visa of Mr. Sempo Sugihara, and also for the Japanese and Jews who live today, it is very valuable to know the museum which introduces the achievements of Mr. Sempo Sugihara with the guide of his family. We will also provide you with a "Sempo Passport," which has a visa with his current family's handwritten signature on it, so that you can keep it for a lifetime.

He said "I didn't do great things, I've just done the right thing."
It is in these words of Mr. Chiune Sugihara that we find the humanitarian spirit that we must deeply engrave in our hearts. Every time you look at the online guide or the Sempo Passport, it will give you a chance to reflect on the humanity in your own life.

The List of Visa Issuers (The List of Life)

Time is 1940. At that time, many Jews chased by the Nazis were evacuated to Lithuania in large numbers. But Lithuania, sandwiched between powers, was also unsafe. And in the early morning of July 18, Jewish displaced persons fleeing from Poland to Lithuania rushed to the Japanese Consulate on the verge of closure for a pass visa (VISA). Seeing the plight, Chiune Sugihara, who was acting as the Consulate General of the Japanese Consulate in Kaunas in Lithuania at that time, decided. He decided to issue visas even for those who did not meet the issuance conditions. It was clearly an act beyond his responsibilities, but he couldn't help doing it.

VISA for life

Day after day he wrote visas, even in the hotel after leaving the consulate. On the last day of his departure, he wrote his visa at the train station. There were many people asking for visas. He handed over the last visa from the train window.

He said "I didn't do great things, I've done the right thing."

Maybe some of you have inherited a life woven by the "visa for life" he issued.

We would like to inherit the noble human spirit that he passed on to us, and develop it more widely with you. We hope that you will understand the contents of the "Sempo Survival Campaign" proposed by The Sempo Project below, and we hope that together we can inherit his spirit.

Sempo Survival Campaign

The Sempo Survival Campaign is for those who are unable to visit the Chiune Sugihara Sempo Museum in Tokyo due to the spread of the new coronavirus infection.

This campaign includes "Chiune Usgihara Sempo Museum Virtual Guide", an online guide to the Sempo Museum by current Sugihara family (about 25 minutes), and “Sempo Passport", a notebook that resembles a passport, with the autographs of current Sugihara family.The campaign will start with a product called "Virtual Sempo To Go".

Chiune Sugihara Sempo Museum Virtual Guide

In 2019, Chiune Sugihara Sempo Museum opened in Tokyo. The Sempo Museum Virtual Guide is a 25-minute video in which Sempo's current family members will guide you through the Sempo Museum. You will be able to feel closer to him and experience the splendor of his achievements by watching and listening to the materials he left behind, his personal belongings that remind us of his days, and episodes of Sempo. Please see the director's cut version including some of the contents below.

日本語 ／ English

Sempo Passport

Sempo Passport is a commemorative notebook to carry on the spirit of Sempo. The passport will be signed by current Sugihara family in their own handwriting, just as they did back then. The passport also includes a map of places related to Sempo in various parts of Japan, and by visiting each place, you will be able to feel more strongly what the spirit of Sempo inherited is. Please take this passport with you during the post-Corona period and go on a journey to inherit his spirit. I am sure that you will be able to remember the important things that we should inherit from our predecessors. I hope that each and every one of you will help to keep this spirit alive and well.

Cover page

Portrait of Chiune Sugihara

Sugihara family sign

About the museum

Map asking for Sempo

Back cover

Sempo Museum

The Chiune Sugihara Sempo Museum is a museum in Yaesu, Tokyo, built to convey the humanism of Sempo Sugihara. The purpose of the museum is to inherit the humanitarian philanthropy through his great deeds, and to contribute to the society by spreading "the importance of life" and "the preciousness of peace" to the world. We hope that you will understand the purpose of our museum and experience the deep thoughts and actions of Sempo.