In September 1922, as a result of the fire and massacres in Smyrna, thousands of Armenian and Greek refugees found themselves stranded at the port. During those tragic days, T. Norito, captain of the Japanese ship “Tokei Maru,” ordered the ship’s valuable cargo to be thrown overboard and rescued more than 800 refugees.

Despite threats from the Turkish side, the captain refused to hand them over and sailed the ship to Greece, ensuring the safety of those he had rescued. His actions are remembered to this day as an exceptional example of humanitarianism and human dignity.

Shushanna Hayasa