THE BOOK FAIR

Review:

“The Fugu Plan”, centers on the little known historic event of Japan’s rescue of European Jews.  During WW II, the majority of countries in the world closed their borders to Jews fleeing to escape Nazi Germany, and German occupied Europe.  Jewish leaders, with the help of Japanese government officials, saved thousands of Jews. 

Japan allowed Jews visas for entry to Japan, by way of ship from the port of Vladivostok, Russia.  The Japanese felt a kindred spirit with Jews in that Shinto, the religion of Japan, claims ties to Moses.

The Fugu plan consisted of two narratives.  One, that resettling European Jews in Japan would bring wealth to Japan.  Two, the belief that the strength of world Jewry, and thus, Jewish wealth, could not only impact government leaders but would persuade the United States government to capitulate to Japan.

Though the Germans pursued plans of the annihilation of Jews, the Japanese allowed no harassment of Jews inside their borders.  Eventually, once Japan allied with Hitler, the Japanese relocated the Jewish refugees to Shanghai, China, and later formed the Ghetto of Shanghai, Hongkew, of which Tokayer describes the deplorable conditions.

Tokayer also makes clear the differences in which the Japanese, government officials or police, treated foreigners inside of Japan, with respect and civility and outside of Japan, as subhuman and inferior.

The author provides an interesting, informative and historically accurate work with historic figures as well as composite characters.  The original Fugu plan, proposed in the 1930’s, provided for the rescue of one million Jewish refugees to resettle in Manchukuo, Japan’s newly acquired territory from China.

 

Note:

As Japan’s Consul to Lithuania, from 1939 to 1940, Chiune Sigihara provided thousands of Jews the opportunity to escape from Russia to Japan.  Israel honored Chiune Sugihara as the “Righteous Among Nations” for his acts of bravery.