The National Hansen's Disease Museum (国立ハンセン病資料館) is a museum in Higashimurayama, Tokyo, Japan that is dedicated to education about Hansen's disease (leprosy) and to eliminating discriminatory practices against its sufferers. It was formerly (1993–2007) named "His Imperial Highness Prince Takamatsu Memorial Museum of Hansen's Disease". The museum is located next to one of Japan's remaining leprosy sanatoriums, and its purposes are:

History

Fujio Ohtani wrote in the pamphlet "H.I.H. Prince Takamatsu Memorial Museum of Hansen's Disease": Our Museum was conceived as a commemorative undertaking for the Fortieth Anniversary of the Tofu Kyokai Foundation. While the construction plans were under way, the Leprosy Prevention Law still existed. All the parties involved ardently wished that this new Museum would function in a way to win the public support for abolition of the Law and to show the realities of the thirteen national and three religious associations affiliated with Hansen's Disease sanatoria, which were known only to a limited number of people.

Timeline

On Display

The Meiji Era and Taisho Era

Showa Era

Law was abolished, Trial for compensation

Life in Sanatoriums

Maintenance of Order

Marriage, Abortions and Sterilization

Education in Sanatoriums

Prejudice in Society (Leprosy Stigma)

Death in Sanatoriums

How to create something to live for

Progress of Medicine

Sanatoriums in and out of Japan

Testimony of ex-patients and related persons

Information about the Museum