Tag - leprosy

 
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July 17, 2025
 

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LEPROSY

Masaru Sato says the ossuary at Matsuoka Hoyoen must be preserved even after residents are gone from the sanatorium.
JAPAN / Regional Voices: Tohoku
Jul 7, 2025
Former Hansen’s disease patients shed light on history of discrimination
Although the prejudice against Hansen's disease patients brought on by past segregation policy persist, the memories of their hardships are now fading.
Lawyers representing families of former leprosy patients seeking damages from the state hold up signs in front of the Kumamoto District Court in June 2019 after winning the case.
JAPAN / Society
Apr 5, 2024
35% in Japan prejudiced against ex-leprosy patients: survey
The health ministry will consider necessary measures given the survey results.
Koichi Kondo plays the harmonica. Playing harmonica was like life itself for members of the Bluebird Band, according to his words.
JAPAN / Society / Regional Voices: Hiroshima
Mar 4, 2024
Harmonica melodies of Hansen's disease patients live on
A band featuring the instrument was founded in 1953, at a time when prejudice against the disease was still strong
Japan Times
JAPAN / Regional Voices: Hiroshima
Jun 5, 2023
Bridge marks 35 years connecting island isolated under past leprosy policy
The Oku-Nagashima Bridge in Okayama Prefecture has become a symbol of acknowledgement that the segregation policy, under which patients suffered for decades from discrimination, was wrong.
JAPAN
Nov 25, 2022
Human rights violations confirmed at leprosy sanatorium
According to the report, 1,674 residents died in the facility between 1938 and 1998, and autopsies were performed on 1,184 of them, about 70% of the total.
COMMUNITY / Issues / LAW OF THE LAND
May 18, 2020
Can Japan's laws adapt to pandemic-era privacy needs?
Identity-based discrimination is a part of Japanese law, but could our own experiences with the new coronavirus become part of our identity?
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Mar 14, 2020
Hansen's discrimination proving tough to stamp out despite legislation
Last year, the government enacted legislation to compensate families of former Hansen's disease patients for the suffering they endured as relatives of a group that was the target of discrimination in the 20th century. Former patients themselves were compensated by the government in 2001 and, later,...
JAPAN / Society
Nov 27, 2019
Japan's government urged to do more to fight discrimination over leprosy
During a meeting with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Tuesday, relatives of former leprosy patients called on the government to continue efforts to combat discrimination following the recent enactment of a law for compensation.
EDITORIALS
Nov 4, 2019
Relief on the way for kin of Hansen's disease patients
Only when a correct understanding of the disease has been established through various efforts will the dignity and human rights of the former Hansen's disease patients and their relatives be fully restored.
JAPAN
Oct 24, 2019
Japanese lawmakers agree on payments to kin of former leprosy patients
A nonpartisan group of lawmakers reached a broad agreement on Wednesday to offer family members of former leprosy patients up to ¥1.8 million in compensation per person.
EDITORIALS
Jul 3, 2019
The damage done to kin of Hansen's disease patients
The government needs to listen to what patients' relatives have gone through and explore what can be done to make up for the damage done.
EDITORIALS
Apr 28, 2016
Supreme Court's probe falls short
The top court's probe into 'special trials' held for leprosy patients accused of criminal offenses failed to address whether the defendants recieved justice.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Apr 25, 2016
Supreme Court apologizes for discriminatory treatment of Japan's leprosy patients
The Supreme Court apologizes to former leprosy patients for allowing lower courts to hold criminal trials involving them outside standard courtrooms over ungrounded fears about the spread of infection.
EDITORIALS
Apr 5, 2016
Special trials for Hansen's patients
Rather than merely offer an apology to former Hansen's disease patients for their closed trials, the Supreme Court should look into whether they received fair trials.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 2, 2015
Decorated U.S. sailor turned missionary, who served at Okinawa leprosy facility, dies at 88
The Rev. Charles Brozat, an American missionary whose 54-year service in Japan included a decade ministering to leprosy sufferers in Okinawa, has died at the age of 88.
Japan researchers identify gut bacteria strain that boosts anticancer drugs
Researchers at the National Cancer Center Japan say a new type of gut bacteria named YB328 could help unlock the potential of cancer immunotherapy.
Japan team finds ancient ocean full of squids
The ancient ocean was full of squids, whose population exceeded that of fish or ammonites, a Japanese research team mainly from Hokkaido University has found through a new method using technology.
Students in Japan struggle with Japanese language and math sections on national exam
The correct answer rate for the Japanese language section on a national test dropped to 67.0% from 67.8% the previous year among elementary school sixth-graders.
Japan launches government body to address concerns over foreign nationals
The new administrative body would serve as a cross-agency "control tower" to respond to issues such as crime and overtourism involving foreign nationals, according to the government.
Japan's Emperor Emeritus admitted to hospital to begin new heart treatment
Emperor Emeritus Akihito is accompanied by Empress Emerita Michiko as he travels to the University of Tokyo Hospital on Monday.
With China and Trump, Japan defense report says world entering ‘new era of crisis’
A senior member of a Self-Defense Forces honor guard inspects a formation before the arrival of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba for a visit to the Defense Ministry in Tokyo on June 30.
Tokyo stocks hit by a perfect storm of tariffs, politics and budget worries
Tokyo stocks are underperforming shares in other large markets globally.
Japan researchers identify gut bacteria strain that boosts anticancer drugs
Researchers at the National Cancer Center Japan say a new type of gut bacteria named YB328 could help unlock the potential of cancer immunotherapy.
Tokyobike founder believes in taking in sights of dynamic cities slowly
Ichiro Kanai, founder and president of Tokyobike, is developing a niche but a new customer base who want to cycle as part of a lifestyle.
Music idol and anime fandom merch is big business
Businesses who cater to fandoms gathered at Tokyo Lifestyle Week for the second annual Oshikatsu — Merch Collection Expo, a trade show devoted to fandom goods.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Longform

After pandemic-era border regulations eased, Indian migrants began returning to Japan. Their population now stands at more than 50,000 across the country.
How remote work is rewriting the migrant experience in Japan
By Megha Wadhwa

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