著者

橋内 武

出版者

桃山学院大学総合研究所

雑誌

桃山学院大学総合研究所紀要 = St. Andrew's University bulletin of the Research Institute (ISSN:1346048X)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.44, no.3, pp.31-73, 2019-03

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Do you know what Hansen's disease is ? Formerly known as "leprosy," it is an infectious skinand peripheral nerve disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae. It used to be extremely difficult tocure, resulting deformed faces, falling off fingers, and crippled limbs. However, today the diseasecan be effectively cured with tablets prescribed regularly for several months. Until 1996, however,Hansen's disease patients in Japan were forced to live in remote sanatoria until they passedaway, representing an infringement of the Japanese Constitution in terms of basic human rights.In those days the contagious power of the infection was thought to be severe, so the governmentenacted Leprosy Prevention Acts in 1907, 1931, and 1953. The aim was to isolate the patients inHansen's disease sanatoria in lonely islands such as Nagashima, or in extremely remote locationsfor the rest of their lives.Both Aisei-en and Komyo-en are located at Nagashima Island in Setouchi, Okayama Prefecture.The former was the first national colony of its kind set up in 1930, while the latter was originallybuilt at the Yodo River Delta, Osaka in 1909, but was moved to the island in 1938 after the MurotoTyphoon completely destroyed the entire premises in 1934.The patients' lives at the sanatoria were miserable and pitiful until the 1953 Act was finally repealedin 1996. Picked up either in the street or at home, they were treated like cattle, carriedin a freight car from the station near their hometown to their remote destination. On their arrival,they were loaded into a truck or bus, (and then a ferry) and transported to the sanatorium. Assoon as they entered the premises, their bodies and personal effects were thoroughly disinfected.The newly arrived had to sign a contract with the institution authorizing the use of their body fordissection after death.These patients had to live together as a group in the same room without privacy. Althoughthey were fundamentally patients, they had to engage in manual work, not only constructing roadsand buildings, but also cultivating lands to produce crops and vegetables, and keeping chickens,pigs, and cows. They also did the necessary domestic work including cleaning, sewing, and washing.Less severely affected patients looked after the more serious cases. If a patient broke a codeof the institution, he or she might be confined in a cell for several days.Before a couple could get married at the sanatorium, the man had to be sterilized. If the womanbecame pregnant, she had to have an abortion. The couple would start their new life with thebridegroom visiting his bride's dormitory, where she lived together with her other female roommates.The patients suffered heavy prejudice from the general public, leaving many to live under falsenames. They scarcely left the colony to visit their hometowns. When they did, they might be rejectedby their family and neighbors, as well as by hotels and restaurants. Even after death, theirashes remained even to this day in the cenotaph of the sanatorium, without relatives taking themback to their home graveyards.In spite of such terrible, miserable conditions, most of the patients somehow managed to enjoytheir sanatorium lives. The young people studied at elementary and secondary schools within thecolony. Some even went to the four-year part-time senior high school in Aisei-en, the only onein Japan for Hansen's disease patients. Creative patients wrote distinguished poems, novels, andessays. Blind musicians played instruments and gave moving concerts now and then. Some enthusiastsformed drama circles to perform plays. Games such as go and shogi were very popularamong male patients.Memorable days included seasonal events such as cherry-blossom viewing, outdoor teaceremonies,summer bon festivals, and sports days in autumn. The building of the Oku-Nagashima Bridge connecting the island with the mainland, on May 9th, 1988, was an event withgreat joy, when everyone was able to happily cross over to the other side.The 89-year history of Hansen's disease patients in Japan under the Leprosy Prevention Actsis truly awful, but their lives should be remembered as part of the forced isolation system. Theformer patients who suffered from this disease were victims of these notorious acts, and wish tohave this extraordinary heritage recorded and remembered for the generations to come. It wouldbe wonderful if these Japanese sanatoria in the Inland Sea might be inscribed on the WorldCultural Heritage list in the near future.