We will be holding a gallery exhibition, "The World of Hiroko Kato's Works as Seen Through Paintings and Knitting," which traces the activities of Hiroko Kato, who passed away on December 2, 2025.
Ms. Kato was born in 1943 and entered Suruga Sanatorium at the age of 12. Later, she enrolled in the Shinrada classroom of Oku High School at Nagashima-Aiseien in Okayama Prefecture. She devoted herself to painting, which she loved, and repeatedly won awards at art exhibitions. She later married while at Suruga Sanatorium. She experienced both reintegration into society with her husband and subsequent re-entry into Suruga Sanatorium. Upon reintegrating into society, she interrupted her painting career and learned knitting techniques, seeking financial independence and a new way of life.
She was also one of the few female artists in the sanatorium. This exhibition focuses on the paintings and knitted works of Ms. Kato, who continued her artistic activities throughout her life despite facing hardships under isolation. Please come and see these works, which are deeply imprinted with the dignity of life.

Top left: "Self-portrait" (September 1972)
Top center: "Workers' Night" (before 1970)
Above right: "Road" (October 1990)
Bottom left: "Yellow long knit sweater" (November 1980)
Bottom center: "Blue skirt" (1980s)
Bottom right: "Socks" (1980s)
All items are from the collection The National Hansen's Disease Museum

Outline of the event

[Dates]
May 2nd (Sat) - June 7th (Sun), 2026

【venue】
The National Hansen's Disease Museum Special Exhibition Room

[Closed days]
Mondays, the day after a public holiday if Monday is a public holiday, and the New Year's holiday period.
*The museum will be open during Golden Week (May 2nd (Sat) - May 6th (Wed)), but closed on May 7th (Thu).
Free admission

Related event

Gallery talk by the curator in charge

May 3rd (Sun), May 5th (Tue), May 10th (Sun), June 7th (Sun)
[Venue] Special Exhibition Room, 2nd Floor The National Hansen's Disease Museum
[Time] Each session will last approximately 14:00 – 14:40.
Free admission, no advance reservation required.

Related lecture: "Toward Proof of Existence - The Activities and Works of Hiroko Kato"

[Lecturer] Hajime Yoshikuni (Curator, The National Hansen's Disease Museum)

Instructor
[Venue] The National Hansen's Disease Museum 1st Floor, Video Hall
[Date and Time] Sunday, May 17th, 14:00 – 15:30

Related exhibition: "The World of Hiroko Kato's Works: Literary Works"

[Venue] The National Hansen's Disease Museum Library Reading Room
Free admission

Download the flyer here (PDF: 2.61 MB)

<<Contact Us>>
The National Hansen's Disease Museum
4-1-13, Aoba-cho, Higashimurayama-shi, Tokyo 189-0002
Phone: 042-396-2909
*We are unable to provide service on days when the museum is closed. Please inquire in advance.