Hana's Suitcase

Hana's suitcase was loaned to 

the Tokyo Holocaust Education Resource Center 

from the Auschwitz Museum in Poland in 2000. 

When it arrived, it inspired much conversation

among the Small Wings children. 

All we knew about her was her name, her birthday, 

and that she arrived in Auschwitz in October 1944 and 

was sent to the gas chamber on that same day.

For the next few months, children visited the suitcase 

and began writing stories about what Hana might have been like as a child. 

Their interest made us really want to 

find out more about her life and family, 

so the search for information began.

Eventually, we not only found her only surviving family member, 

but he provided us with a glimpse of her life and her personality, 

as well as a collection of her photographs.

Hana's suitcase has become much more than a historical artifact 

at the Tokyo Holocaust Education Resource Center. 

It has become a bridge between a beautiful little girl named Hana 

and the children of Japan who are studying about the Holocaust.　

June 2000

Children come to see the suitcase.

Hana's Suitcase

Hana's suitcase arrived at 

the Tokyo Holocaust Education 

Resource Center. 

Many children and adults came 

to see the suitcase. 

As they wrote poems and 

stories about it, 

they wanted to know more 

about the little girl who owned it.

Who was Hana?

 Where was she from?

What happened to her parents?

What did she like to play? 

What did she look like?

July 2000

We found Hana's brother had survived.

We began searching for photographs of Hana 

in photo archives in the world.

We found 5 drawings Hana made 

when she was in Terezin.

Fumiko's visit to Prague resulted in finding the transport list.

Just above Hana's name was "George Brady" 

with a post-war indication on the records that he survived!

With coincidences and good luck, 

we found out an address and phone number for George Brady

in Toronto, Canada!

September 2000

We wrote to George Brady 

asking him if he had any photographs 

of his sister. 

We also asked for any stories about her, including what she liked to play, 

what type of girl she was, 

and any other information 

he would share.

George Brady sent 4 photographs 

of Hanna and their family, 

plus a detailed four-page long 

letter of his memories of 

their life before the war.

January 2001

After more letters and 

telephone conversations,

Fumiko traveled to Toronto to meet George, bringing along more letters, drawings, and poems by children 

who learned about Hanna's suitcase.

While in Canada, 

the CBC Radio producer 

Karen Levine interviewed 

George and Fumiko together. 

The broadcast was heard 

across the entire country.

March 2001

George Brady and 

his daughter, Lara Hana, 

came to Japan for the first time 

to see Hana's Suitcase and 

to meet Japanese children.

 George shared with them 

more stories about Hana's life.

He also visited an elementary school 

in Hiroshima and talked to 

children there who knew Hana's story 

and had seen her suitcase.