On the margins of Holocaust memory lies an extraordinary story of courage, compassion, and hope: in the summer of 1940, in Kaunas, under occupied Lithuania, Japanese Vice-Consul Chiune (Sempo) Sugihara acted against the instructions of his government – and issued transit visas to Japan for thousands of Jewish refugees.

The visas opened a rare escape route: from Eastern Europe through Siberia, to Japan, and sometimes further to Eretz Israel, America, Shanghai, and other destinations. Many survivors testified that these handwritten documents – sometimes produced at a rate of hundreds a day – saved their lives. In 1985, Sugihara was recognized as Righteous Among the Nations, and today in Japan he is considered a hero and a symbol of moral courage.

The international festival DROGA DŌ seeks to rekindle the memory of Sugihara and his rescue story through contemporary art and music. “Droga” in Polish means “road” or “path,” while “Dō” in Japanese signifies a way or guiding principle – a name that bridges cultures and symbolizes the path of rescue and hope that Sugihara created.

The events will open in Tel Aviv on September 19, 2025, with a meeting with historian Zofia Hartman – author of the book The Sugihara List – at the Polish Institute Library in Tel Aviv. The next day, September 20, a chamber music concert will take place at Studio Ant in Tel Aviv, featuring works by Jewish-European and Japanese composers of the 20th century, accompanied by a poster exhibition created in collaboration with the Department of Visual Communication at Bezalel Academy.

The entire festival is based on musical and artistic collaboration between creators and performers from the four countries, aiming to merge different perspectives and sensitivities. In October, the festival will move to Warsaw and then to Kaunas, and in November to Tsuruga, Japan.

When: Saturday | September 20, 2025 | 20:30

Where: Studio Ant, Shvil HaMeretz 2, Tel Aviv

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