A stone "kura" storehouse in Ishikari, Hokkaido, that is situated on a farmer's property is being turned into a museum to commemorate the life of Kiichiro Higuchi. The adjacent house will be turned into an accommodation facility. (Provided by the Hokkaido old house renovation group)

ISHIKARI, Hokkaido--After Oskar Schindler and Chiune Sugihara, add this name to the list of those who helped Jews escape Nazi persecution: Kiichiro Higuchi.

Higuchi, who died in 1970 aged 82, served as a lieutenant general with the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II.

As head of the Harbin secret agency of the Kwantung Army in Manchuria, northeastern China, Higuchi in March 1938 allowed hordes of Jewish refugees to cross the border from Otpor in the Soviet Union to enter the Japanese puppet state of Manchukuo.

Although the Manchukuo government initially hesitated to accept the refugees, given that Japan and Nazi Germany were allies, Higuchi persuaded South Manchuria Railway Co. to allow them to enter.

To mark the 50th anniversary of his death next summer, a citizens group is working to set up a museum in Hokkaido, where Higuchi was once based, to commemorate his life.

The facility will be housed in a traditional "kura" stone storehouse on a farmer's property.

A book titled “Shikikan no Ketsudan: Manshu to Attsu no Shogun, Higuchi Kiichiro” (Decision by commander: Manchuria and a general on Attu, Kiichiro Higuchi), authored by Takashi Hayasaka and published by Bungeishunju Ltd., details his accomplishments.

According to the publication, Higuchi's name is listed in what is known as the "Golden Book," a record kept by Israel of those who helped the Jewish state. His name appears in reference to a donation made by the Jewish community in the Far East in appreciation of his efforts to save the lives of many Jews.

In 1942, Higuchi was assigned to Sapporo as commander of the Northern Regional Army to lead the disastrous campaign on Attu Island in the Aleutian Islands against the United States. As the army headquarters decided to abandon the assault, Higuchi's unit resorted to a last-ditch banzai attack.

At the end of World War II, Higuchi, as commander of the No. 5 Regional Army based in Sapporo, helped fortify Shumshu island in the northern Kurile Islands off Hokkaido from invasion by Soviet forces.

The plan to establish a museum to commemorate Higuchi's life was suggested by a member of a group in Sapporo that specializes in renovating old private homes.

Takeki Mikami, 56, a group member who works for a company in Otaru, Hokkaido, became interested in Higuchi and started researching his life.

Through this work, Mikami discovered that there is no dedicated facility themed on Higuchi's bravery other than a corner set up within the Tsukisappu Local History Museum in Sapporo’s Toyohira Ward, which was where he once lived.

Mikami asked Mikio Ezaki, 65, chairman of the group, for his assistance in bequeathing Higuchi’s story to future generations. Mikami also contacted musicologist Ryuichi Higuchi, a grandson of Higuchi who is an emeritus professor at Tokyo's Meiji Gakuin University, for his approval.

That led to the decision to transform the storehouse into a museum and renovate the farmer's house next door into an accommodation facility. Most of the work is scheduled to be completed in October.

The kura, which measures 40 square meters, was built around 1921. Panels and photos will be displayed on the walls, and members hope, they will be permitted by Higuchi's family to showcase personal items from his life.

The group established a steering committee to proceed with the project on July 20 in Sapporo, with Mikami and Ezaki serving as chairman and vice chairman, respectively.

Mikami said the museum location was based on the fact that Higuchi was said to have spent around 18 months in a rural area of Otaru from 1946.

“In light of that, I went to see the building in the hope it would be suitable, and discovered the location is ideal,” Mikami said. “I also want people to know about how he tried to protect Hokkaido from the Soviet Union.”

“History should not be forgotten,” Ezaki said.

Ryuichi Higuchi, who has also undertaken a major study of his grandfather's life, welcomed the initiative.

“That private citizens have embarked on this project is very good news for me,” Ryuichi said. “My grandfather would appreciate it as well.”

As the renovations are projected to cost 2 million yen ($18,795), the steering committee is soliciting donations.