Screening of Persona Non Grata, a Film on the Late Japanese Diplomat Chiune Sugihara

On March 14, the Consulate-General of Japan and the Consulate-General of Israel co-hosted a screening of Persona Non Grata at the Congregation Darchei Noam synagogue in Toronto.More than 200 were in attendance, including Consul-General of Japan Takako Ito and Consul-General of Israel Galit Baram, along with the Consuls-General of the US, France, Poland, Slovakia, Bulgaria, and representatives of other consular missions in Toronto.  At the venue was also an exhibit of posters depicting Mr. Sugihara and others who received the title “Righteous Among the Nations” by the State of Israel.

In her remarks, Consul-General Ito spoke of the achievements of Mr. Sugihara, touching on stories from Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s visits to Israel and Lithuania.  She also spoke of the peace-loving and humanitarian nature of contemporary Japan, as well as the kindness shown to Japanese Canadians by Toronto’s Jewish community after World War II, illustrating the significance of screening the film in this city.