Persona Non Grata

In 1955, Nyiszli arrives at the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs seeking Chiune Sugihara, a diplomat who once saved his life. An officer dismisses the possibility, claiming there is no such diplomat named Sugihara. Nyiszli leaves the building disappointed but vows to track him down.

Back in 1934, Sugihara works with Russian accomplices Irina and Maret to gain leverage over the Chinese Eastern Railway negotiations. They capture evidence of the Soviet army stealing a locomotive, triggering orders from Kingo Minamikawa to kill Soviet soldiers and Maret. Enraged by the Kwantung Army's actions, Sugihara resigns from the Manchuria Ministry and returns to Japan.

Sugihara is unexpectedly assigned as the Japanese Ambassador to the Soviet Union and prepares to depart for Moscow. This posting comes after his earlier controversy and marks a new chapter in his diplomatic career. He anticipates serving in the Soviet capital, navigating a complex geopolitical landscape.

To his surprise, the Soviets list Sugihara as Persona Non Grata, effectively blocking his Moscow posting. The rejection compounds his sense of disillusionment with the geopolitical chess game around Eastern Europe. He remains in limbo as diplomatic tensions rise.

After a night of drinking with his friend Shizuo Kikuchi, Sugihara meets Shizuo's younger sister Sachiko. The two fall in love and marry, anchoring his personal life in Japan despite professional turbulence. The relationship becomes a quiet counterpoint to the looming war.

In 1939, Sugihara serves as a diplomat in Kaunas, Lithuania, while spying on Soviet moves alongside Polish ally Pesh. Their intelligence work anticipates a broader conflict as Poland is invaded and the Nazi–Soviet alignment tightens. He senses the looming danger but continues his duties.

As the Nazi–Soviet Pact takes effect and the German army advances, Sugihara and Pesh realize the plan to divide Eastern Europe. Despite their assessments, the Japanese authorities offer little support or action to counter the unprecedented power shift. The diplomatic world seems paralysed by competing loyalties.

With the Soviets occupying the Baltic states, Jews try to escape through transit visas, but the Soviet closure of consulates blocks their path. Nyiszli's group finds Jan Zwartendijk, who agrees to issue Netherlands visas, offering a possible escape route via Japan. Sugihara becomes entangled in the red tape of wartime policy.

When he sees Zwartendijk's actions and the Jews' desperate situation, Sugihara decides to issue as many transit visas as possible, despite direct orders from the Ministry. He continues this goodwill work until his own family can depart Lithuania. The visas dramatically alter the fate of thousands of Jews.

The visas issued by Sugihara enable many Jews to escape to Japan, bypassing Europe’s genocidal perils. His actions save thousands of lives and cement his legacy as a humanitarian. The escape route remains perilous but provides a lifeline for many families.

After departing Lithuania, Sugihara is posted to Königsberg in East Prussia. He and Pesh detect the approaching invasion of the Soviet Union and warn Hiroshi Oshima, the Japanese ambassador in Germany, who dismisses the warning as Japan remains aligned with strategic players. Sugihara's caution goes unheeded.

With the German war machine fully mobilized, Sugihara is ordered to leave Königsberg and is reassigned to Romania. Before departure, he warns Pesh that Japan might lose if it joins a broader war, a warning that foreshadows his own uncertain fate. Pesh decides to return to Poland to fight.

In 1945, after Japan's surrender, Sugihara and his family are interned in a Soviet POW camp. Letters from Irina reach him, thanking him for saving countless Jewish lives and changing their fate. He breaks down in tears upon reading the messages of gratitude.

Twenty-seven years after Lithuania, Sugihara resigns from the Foreign Ministry, working at a merchandising company in Moscow, where he reunites with Nyiszli. They remember their shared past and the lives saved by his visa decisions. The late recognition underscores the quiet impact of his choices.

Sugihara is named Righteous Among the Nations by Israel in 1985 for saving Jewish lives. He dies of heart disease in 1987 at age 86. In 2000, Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs restores his honor and unveils a ceremonial plaque in his memory.