The Enemy of My Enemy Is My Friend…

At 4:00 PM on December 11, 1941, Poland declared war on Japan.
Japan responded by saying it didn’t believe it.
The cooperation between Polish and Japanese intelligence continued in full force.

Following the declaration of war, nothing changed in the close relationship between Poland and Japan: information exchange, assistance in organizing the escape of Polish Jews, cryptographic training by Polish specialists for the Japanese, and daily updates on the positioning of Soviet forces. How was this possible?

After World War I, when Poland re-emerged as an independent state, Japan was one of the first countries to recognize the new Republic (fifth in the world). The bond between Poland and Japan formed quickly and strongly, based on shared interests and sympathies. As early as 1920, Japan engaged in a rescue mission in Siberia, bringing hundreds of Polish orphans to Japan, where they were provided shelter and care. They were even visited by Empress Teimei herself, which was a profound gesture of respect and concern for the fate of Polish children. Poland, in return, awarded Japanese officers the Order of Virtuti Militari in recognition of their contributions during the war with Russia. A friendship blossomed—two nations located at opposite ends of the world, despite cultural differences, found common values and goals, which soon translated into economic and military cooperation.

Then came World War II. On December 11, 1941, at 4:00 PM, something happened that would end any friendship: Poland officially declared war on Japan. It seemed that the future of Polish-Japanese relations was heading into dark times.

And guess what?

Japan never acknowledged it. The Japanese stated that Poland’s declaration of war was forced by circumstances—after Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor, Poland, as an ally of the Allies, was obliged to respond. Tokyo made no reply, and Prime Minister Tōjō Hideki clearly stated: Japan does not recognize this declaration as an act of hostility. But that’s not all.

Not everyone may know, but the friendship and cooperation between Poland and Japan continued even when they were officially on opposing sides during World War II. It’s still a little-known fact that, while the world was engulfed in bloody conflict, Polish and Japanese intelligence officers continued to exchange information and assist each other in intelligence operations against a common enemy—the Soviet Union. High-ranking Japanese dignitaries, like Japanese Consul Chiune Sugihara in Kaunas, facilitated the escape of Polish Jews, while Polish agents operated in Berlin using Japanese documents. Japan, though formally part of the Axis, never abandoned its old friends in Poland, and intelligence and diplomacy between the two countries continued on an unprecedented scale throughout the war. If you want to know the details of this cooperation—read on below!

Polish-Japanese Relations

The history of relations between Poland and Japan is a story full of symbolic gestures, friendship, and cooperation—built on a foundation of shared values even before official agreements were established. Officially, it all began in 1919, when Poland regained independence after more than a century of partition. Then, far to the east, Japan became one of the first countries to recognize the new Republic, officially establishing diplomatic relations.

In the spirit of friendship, as early as the 1920s, Japan offered help to hundreds of Polish orphans stranded in Siberia after the chaos of the Russian Revolution and the civil war. These children, stripped of home and family, had been through the hell of war. Japan opened its doors to them, and a total of 765 Polish orphans were brought to the Land of the Rising Sun, where they found not only shelter but also support and care (we write more about this here: Polish Children in Siberia: From Japanese to Polish Soil).

This friendship strengthened over the years. Poland and Japan discovered that they shared a common enemy—the Soviet Union, which continued to expand its influence east and west. Both countries saw each other as potential allies in resisting communist expansion. Grateful for Japanese assistance, Poland decided to honor Japanese officers for their contributions in the fight against Russia, dating back to the Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905). In an unprecedented gesture, as many as 51 officers of the Imperial Army were awarded Poland’s highest military decoration, the Virtuti Militari Order. It was a symbol of how deeply the shared history of both countries was bound around resisting Russian domination.

This mutual understanding and respect meant that Poland and Japan, despite the physical distance and cultural differences, built bonds based on true friendship and solidarity. Diplomatic, cultural, and intelligence cooperation flourished in the 1920s and 1930s, positioning Poland and Japan as allies ready to support each other in the face of major global challenges.

Of course, it is impossible to ignore all the terrible acts committed by the Japanese army against civilians in countries like China (Manchuria), Southeast Asia, and, above all—Korea. Many of these acts constitute real crimes against humanity and are certainly a topic for a separate article. Today, however, we focus on Polish-Japanese relations.

The Interwar Period

The intelligence alliance between Poland and Japan in the interwar period was one of the most fascinating examples of intelligence cooperation in the 20th century. Though separated by thousands of kilometers, both countries saw each other as strategic allies against the communist Soviet Union, which posed a shared threat. The foundation for this cooperation was laid as early as the Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905), when Józef Piłsudski, acting in favor of an independent Poland, established contacts with Japanese intelligence. However, it was only in the 1920s that this cooperation took on an official character and gained momentum.

A turning point in intelligence contacts came in 1923 when Jan Kowalewski, a talented Polish cryptologist and intelligence officer, was sent to Japan on a mission to train Japanese officers in cryptography. Kowalewski already had experience in decoding Soviet communications—his skills in this field contributed to Poland’s success during the Polish-Bolshevik War in 1920. Japanese officers were particularly interested in methods of breaking Red Army codes, marking the beginning of a long-term intelligence collaboration. Kowalewski not only shared his methods but also taught Japanese specialists how to analyze and compile data from open sources that could be used in intelligence work.

Soon, Poland and Japan organized regular intelligence meetings. Every week, Polish and Japanese officers met in Tokyo to exchange information on Soviet forces. As recalled by Wacław Jędrzejewicz, Polish military attaché in Tokyo from 1925–1928, each side would bring large maps showing the locations of Soviet units—corps, divisions, brigades, and regiments, both land and air forces. Based on this data, they compared locations and armament, and any discrepancies were carefully analyzed. Thanks to this, Poland and Japan could update and verify information about the Red Army, allowing them to better prepare for potential actions from the USSR.

Intelligence cooperation covered not only the analysis of Soviet armed forces but also the exchange of codebreaking techniques and intelligence methods. Japanese officers regularly visited Poland, where they trained under Polish experts in decoding Soviet codes. The cryptographic section of the Polish General Staff was considered one of the best in the world, and their methods impressed the Japanese. Among the Japanese officers who benefited from this training were General Hyakutake Harukichi (百武 晴吉) and General Okubo Shunjiro (大久保 駿次郎), who, upon returning to Japan, led intelligence projects based on Polish methods.

Mutual assistance and intelligence exchange had enormous operational significance for both countries. Japan, with a clear strong presence in the Far East, intercepted Soviet communications and information from the Asian region, passing them on to Poland. Meanwhile, Polish officers shared data obtained from European intelligence, especially from the Baltic countries and their posts in Moscow. Through this cooperation, both countries could better understand Soviet plans and monitor the development of its military potential.

During World War II

When World War II broke out, fate unexpectedly linked Poland and Japan—even though they formally found themselves on opposite sides. As we know, Poland, occupied by the Germans and threatened by the Soviets, joined the Allied camp, while Japan became an ally of Germany and Italy within the Axis. Paradoxically, these formal alliances did not stop both countries from continuing intelligence cooperation against a common enemy—the Soviet Union. In their actions lay surprising acts of loyalty and courage, which, though hidden from the world’s eyes, had real effects.

On the diplomatic front, Japan continued to show goodwill towards the Poles. For two years after the Nazis entered Poland, Japan maintained the Polish embassy in Tokyo. When it was finally closed, the Polish Ambassador to Japan, Tadeusz Romer, began a mission in Japan to save Polish Jews, organizing a safe escape route for them from the USSR through Japan to the West. In Lithuania, in Kaunas, Chiune Sugihara, Japan’s Vice-Consul, issued transit visas to thousands of refugees, mainly Polish Jews, enabling them to leave through Japan to the United States and other countries. Acting against orders, Sugihara issued 2,139 visas, saving approximately 6,000 people from extermination.

Sugihara not only saved refugees but also established contact with Polish intelligence agents. The Poles quickly recognized the strategic potential of the Japanese consulate in Kaunas and placed their own agent there—valet Bolesław Róziński, who served as an intermediary. Vice-Consul Sugihara also met with Leszek Daszkiewicz and Captain Alfons Jakubianiec, experienced intelligence officers working on reconnaissance of the German-Soviet border. Sugihara enabled them to send secret reports via Japanese diplomatic mail and provided false documents. Unmoved by Berlin's pressures, Sugihara continued this cooperation until 1941, when his post was transferred to Königsberg.

Another key location for Polish-Japanese intelligence cooperation was Stockholm, where Japan’s military attaché was General Onodera Makoto, called the “Swedish Fox” by the Germans. Onodera conducted extensive espionage operations and maintained close contacts with the Poles. Among his collaborators was Michał Rybikowski, a Polish agent equipped with a passport from Manchukuo—a Japanese puppet state in Manchuria (China). Rybikowski had access to the Japanese military office in Berlin, where he worked as a translator. Thanks to Onodera, the Poles could gather information about the movements of the Red Army and Germany’s plans for the USSR. Onodera and Rybikowski frequently exchanged data on Soviet military potential, analyzing Soviet plans and technologies. Onodera, who knew Russia like the back of his hand, was a treasury of knowledge that Polish intelligence greatly needed for its operations.

Polish-Japanese intelligence relations during the war were also filled with mutual respect. While other collaborators treated this as pure strategy, Onodera and Sugihara risked their careers and positions to help Polish agents. When in 1941 the Germans gained control over Sugihara and Rybikowski's activities, the Japanese worked to evacuate their Polish collaborators. In 1942, Sugihara moved to Bucharest, while Rybikowski, operating under the new name Iwanobu Heita, continued his cooperation from Japan, sending reports from occupied territories.

Heroes

Chiune Sugihara (杉原 千畝), sometimes called the “Japanese Schindler,” was a diplomat in Lithuania but also a quiet hero. In 1940, while serving as Japan’s Vice-Consul in Kaunas, he faced a dramatic choice as hundreds, and later thousands, of Polish Jews lined up before the Japanese consulate. Desperate refugees needed transit visas to escape Europe, avoiding the brutal repression in Nazi-occupied Poland. Aware of the situation, Sugihara decided to act, even though he knew he was risking a lot.

Every day brought him more people—mothers, fathers, children, the old and the young—pleading for help. In cooperation with the Dutch consul Jan Zwartendijk, who issued visas to the Dutch colonies in the Caribbean, Sugihara issued Japanese transit visas, opening a route eastward for the refugees. It was painstaking work; he filled out each visa by hand, for hours every day, even in his last moments in Kaunas, as he handed out documents through a train window. In a few months, Sugihara issued 2,139 visas that saved 5,000–6,000 people, allowing them to escape through Japan and eventually to safe destinations in the USA, Canada, and other places.

These acts had consequences for Sugihara. After the war, when he returned to Japan, he was forced to resign from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs—his independent actions were not well regarded by his superiors. Deprived of support, Sugihara struggled financially for years, never returning to a diplomatic career. But fate did not forget him—in 1985, Israel honored him with the title of Righteous Among the Nations; in Poland, the memory of his sacrifice also remained strong.

After the War

After the war, Japanese and Polish intelligence officers who once risked their lives found themselves in an entirely new reality. General Makoto Onodera, who during the war organized cooperation with Polish intelligence in Stockholm, was arrested and interrogated by American services in Sugamo Prison. Despite rigorous interrogations where he described his cooperation with Polish agents, Onodera retained his respect for the Poles—on the contrary, he described them as loyal, courageous allies. After returning to Japan, he devoted himself to business activities, and his friendship with Polish intelligence officer Michał Rybikowski lasted for years—until Onodera’s death. Sugihara, who issued thousands of visas saving Poles in Kaunas, also faced a difficult reality. After the war, for actions contrary to official guidelines, he was forced to resign from his diplomatic career. His heroism and sacrifice were acknowledged only years later, and in 1985 Israel awarded him the title of Righteous Among the Nations.

Formal diplomatic relations between Poland and Japan were resumed on February 8, 1957, when an agreement was signed restoring normal diplomatic relations between the People's Republic of Poland and Japan. Soon, a dynamic development of economic and cultural contacts began—Japan eagerly invested in Polish industry, and Japanese companies began to appear in Poland. In 1993, thanks to Japan’s support, the Polish-Japanese Academy of Information Technology was established, and four years later, the Museum of Japanese Art and Technology “Manggha” was opened in Krakow, which remains a symbol of Japanese culture in Poland to this day.

The memory of past cooperation and wartime alliances has also survived in symbolic gestures of support and friendship between the two countries. After earthquakes in Japan, Poland organized humanitarian aid, and Japan, referring to its former help for Polish Siberian orphans, symbolically welcomed dozens of Polish children for vacations. The visit of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko to Poland in 2002 was a symbolic sealing of this friendship, and in 2019, the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Poland and Japan was celebrated with a visit from the heir to the throne, Prince Akishino, and Princess Kiko. Such gestures remind us that despite the thousands of kilometers and cultural differences separating Poland and Japan, the two countries are united by a bond founded on respect, friendship, and a shared history.

Conclusion

The history of Polish-Japanese intelligence cooperation is an example of a unique, pragmatic alliance born from a need for survival and a shared vision. The two countries, separated by thousands of kilometers, united their mutual interests and concern for defense against the expanding influence of the USSR. Poland and Japan showed that an intelligence alliance could exist beyond official wartime alliances when the nation’s future was at stake. Despite Poland’s formal declaration of war against Japan, these two sides continued their joint struggle, combining their resources and knowledge to gain information on enemy capabilities.

The cooperation between Poland and Japan had a significant impact on the development of their intelligence services, and traces of this partnership are also visible in today’s relations. The friendship built in the shadow of war has endured and became the foundation for later economic, cultural, and social relations. Figures like Chiune Sugihara, who risked his career and life to save Polish refugees, and General Onodera Makoto, who built an intelligence network with the Poles, are remembered (albeit not as widely as they deserve) as heroes who served not only intelligence but also the deep bond between the nations.

Today, Poland and Japan maintain a relationship closer than physical distance would suggest. The relations flourish, and year by year these ties are strengthening, showing that mutual understanding and respect go far beyond wartime. If only we could remember the history of this cooperation…

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 A connoisseur of Asian culture with a deep-seated appreciation for various philosophies of the world. By education, psychologist and Korean philologist. By heart, an Android developer and an ardent tech aficionado. In tranquil moments, he champions a disciplined way of life, firmly believing that steadfastness, perpetual self-enhancement, and a dedication to one's passions is a sensible path for life.

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