'Kotsuji's Gift': The Japanese scholar who rescued Jewish refugees during World War II - review

In late 1940, Japanese scholar Setsuzo Kotsuji orchestrated a quiet but vital operation to aid thousands of Jewish refugees stranded in Kobe, Japan. Over a series of elaborate dinners, Kotsuji cultivated relationships with Kobe police officials, offering fine dining and sake without initially revealing his purpose. It was only at the third meeting that he formally requested extensions for the refugees' transit visas, which were nearing their expiration.

Kotsuji secured the necessary extensions, granting refugees precious time. He financed this effort with 300,000 yen, a significant sum borrowed from his brother-in-law, explaining only that the money was "for the lives of human beings." This strategy allowed some 6,000 individuals to pass safely through Japan over the following months, escaping persecution in Europe.

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for the lives of human beings.

While Vice-Consul Chiune Sugihara is widely recognized for issuing transit visas, Kotsuji's behind-the-scenes work was equally critical. A new book, "Kotsuji’s Gift: The Daring Rescue of Japan’s Jewish Refugees," by Jundai Yamada, aims to bring Kotsuji's story to light. The book positions Kotsuji as the essential "catcher" who ensured the refugees' safety after Sugihara, the "pitcher," had issued the initial documents.

Born in Kyoto in 1899 into a family of Shinto priests, Kotsuji's path took a profound turn when he encountered a Japanese Bible as an adolescent. This led him to abandon his family's traditional religious duties and embrace Judaism. The book explores how this stern Hebrew scholar, despite his background, possessed the social acumen to navigate complex situations and charm officials, a skill that proved instrumental in his humanitarian mission.

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