ホロコースト記念館 JAPANHOLOCAUST EDUCATION CENTER
WINTER, 2007 No.

17NEWSLETTEREntering the Second Stage

Makoto Otsuka, Director General, Holocaust Education Center, JapanThe Holocaust Education Center, Japan was established as the in Amsterdam from Basel, Switzerland, and got involved infirst of its kind in Japan in July 1995. 1.5 million little lives were educating young people who will live in the future, talking aboutlost just because they were born Jewish. "Why did they have to be peace to these people who come from all over the world.
killed?" we have been trying to answer this question for theSince his death, we have kept in contact with the Frank Family.
Japanese people, who are taught very little about the Holocaust.
Last year, for the 10th Anniversary of our center we welcomed
In Japan the problems of bullying and violence have frequently Mr. Buddy Elias, the only cousin of Anne Frank alive. As
occurred lately, and teachers are at a loss in how to combat these President of the Anne Frank Fonds in Basel, Mr. Elias kindly
problems. The Holocaust tells us stories of "Righteous among the donated the typewriter which Mr. Otto Frank used to type Anne's
Nations", such as Sempo Sugihara, who inspire us to be Diary, and about 100 other artifacts to our center.
courageous in any situations, and I'm sure that the Holocaust is
For the Future
one of the timeliest and the most universal themes to learn.
In the new museum we hope that visitors will not only learn theThe HEC enters its 12th year next
full story of the Holocaust, but also
July, and almost 80 thousand people
feel the Holocaust, the hope of peace
have visited our center since itof the murdered children, and theopened. Our aim is to inform visitors
voices of peace of those who
about the Holocaust. The visitors,
miraculously survived. We aredeeply touched, have asked
planning to construct a replica of athemselves what they can do to create
ghetto wall of 3.5 meters high, andpeace, and they have talked about theare also preparing witness videos of 5
Holocaust in various places.
survivors who are active in theThe Holocaust Education Center is
Holocaust Museum of Montreal,
now going to enter its second stage.
Canada.
The new center is under construction,
Many people from over 60
which when completed, will provide
countries have donated to us valuable
a more effective and educational
artifacts and documents, and haveenvironment for more children
supported our center with warmvisitors. It will be a two-story
words of encouragement.
Model of the New Holocaust Education Center, Japanbuilding with 810 m2 of floor space.
We will keep acting as "anThere will be a permanent exhibition room, a temporary educational center that creates peace" with your kind assistance.
exhibition room, a lecture hall (which can seat 150 people), aThe new center will be dedicated to the late Rev. Takeji Otsuki
children's room, a library and audio visual room, and a garden of (1906-2004), the founder of Beit Shalom Japan, and more thanAnne Frank's Rose. It will be completed in end of September 2,000 people of good will from all over Japan, have donated to2007.
helped us reach this plan. To remember this modest reverend, who
There will be enough space for groups of more than 100 people has prayed for "the peace of Jerusalem" for more than 60 years,to see the exhibits deeply in silence. Our aim is to present the facts we will build a memorial wall made of Jerusalem Stones (5of the Holocaust to visitors, and allow them to think of ways in meters high, 10 meters wide), inside the facade of the museum.
which they can help create a peaceful world.
We hope to build a graceful and dignified center.
Reproduction of Anne Frank's Room
March of The Living
We especially hope to reproduce Anne Frank's bedroom from
The recent visit of Mr. Aharon Tamir and Mr. David Ben-Nae ofthe secret annex in Amsterdam, as the highlight of our new center. the International March of the Living, made a deep impression onIn 1971, I met Anne's father, Mr. Otto Frank, by chance while us. Young people from all over the world visit the sites of thetraveling in Israel. Since then we have remained in contact for Holocaust in Poland, and the Holy Land, Israel, making actions
more than 10 years. His words of "Do not just sympathize with with the motto of "We can change the world"; it will give us ideas
the 1.5 million children who were murdered during the Holocaust, for a bright future.
but also actually do something to create peace." became an
Remember the past and look forward for the future.
inspiration to establish the Holocaust Education Center. Mr. Otto If you hope it, it is no more a dream.
Frank was the only person from his family who survived
Auschwitz. After the war he often visited the Anne Frank House
Holocaust Education Center, Japan(In Memory of 1.5 million Jewish Children)
President, Masaru Otsuki
Director General, Makoto Otsuka

866 Nakatsuhara, Miyuki, Fukuyama-City,
Hiroshima-Pref., Japan 720-0004
Phone & Fax:(+81)84-955-8001
URL:http://www.urban.ne.jp/home/hecjpn/ E-Mail:hecjpn@urban.ne.jp1