Chiune Sugihara

Born on New Year's Day, Chiune Sugihara decided early on that saving lives was better than following bureaucratic orders. While serving as Vice-Consul in Kaunas, Lithuania, he was inundated with Jewish refugees desperately seeking passage to escape the Nazi regime. Tokyo said no, but Sugihara, a man of quiet conviction, clearly had other plans.

Over several weeks in the summer of 1940, Sugihara worked tirelessly, reportedly writing out visas by hand for 18-20 hours a day, effectively signing away his career but cementing his legacy. He issued thousands of transit visas, allowing Jewish refugees to travel through Japan to other destinations, often Surabaya or Curaçao, though many ended up in Shanghai.

His selfless actions stood in stark contrast to the global indifference many nations showed toward the plight of Jewish refugees. Post-war, he was forced to resign from the foreign service, proving that doing the right thing often comes with a personal cost. Luckily for history (and roughly 6,000 souls), he didn't seem to mind.

Sugihara’s bravery was eventually recognized, earning him the title of Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem in 1985. A true mensch, even if he wasn't technically a Jew.