​You can watch the record of the 70th anniversary of the "Struggle Leprosy Prevention Law" on YouTube.

Lecturer Manabu Tashiro (Curator, Manabu The National Hansen's Disease Museum)　

On August 13, 1953, 70 years ago, All-Japan National Leprosaria Patients' Association (currently the National Leprosy sanatorium Residents Council) ended its "Leprosy Prevention Law struggle" calling for revision of the "leprosy Leprosy Prevention Law."
The "Leprosy Prevention Law Struggle" is a revision of the "Leprosy Prevention Law," which has caused various damages to residents, into a law that respects basic human rights in line with the era when the therapeutic drug Promin and the Constitution of Japan appeared. It was an exercise I tried. Fierce struggles took place all over the country, and before long, the residents rushed out of the sanatorium and even went so far as to petition directly and sit-in in front of the Diet and the Ministry of Health and Welfare.
However, despite some success, the "Leprosy Prevention Law" was enacted, with provisions for internment, maintaining order in sanatoriums, and prohibiting residents from going out. After that, this law was abolished in 1996, and a judicial decision was made in favor of the plaintiff in the `` Leprosy Prevention Law'' unconstitutional Lawsuit Claiming Compensation from the Government, which violated the basic human rights guaranteed by the Japanese Constitution. has been confirmed.
In this museum talk, we will look back on the "Leprosy Prevention Law Struggle," which was a major turning point in the history of Issues related to leprosy. I would like to use this as an opportunity to think about the current Issues related to leprosy from the events of 70 years ago.

Outline of the event

【日時】
2023年9月30日（土）14時 から 15時30分

【開催方法】
現地参加（20人まで）／Zoomウェビナーによる配信（100人まで）
※いずれも申込先着順です。
※6月3日（土） 15時30分からお申込みいただけます。
※現地参加をご希望の方は、下記Googleフォームでお申込み下さい。
※オンライン参加をご希望の方は、Zoomウェビナーでお申込み下さい。
※新型コロナウイルス感染症対策の状況等によってはオンラインのみの開催になる可能性もありますのでご了承下さい。

【参加申し込み受付期間】
2023年6月3日（土）15時30分 から 2023年9月30日（土）12時まで（定員に達し次第締め切ります）

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Report on the 70th anniversary of the Struggle Leprosy Prevention Law

Lecturer: Manabu Tashiro (Curator The National Hansen's Disease Museum)

The event was attended by 12 people at the venue and 76 people online.
This year's event was a tie-up with the ongoing exhibition "70 Years of the Struggle for Leprosy Prevention Law".
In the first half, we talked about topics such as "The Birth of All-Japan National Leprosaria Patients' Association," "The Beginning of the Struggle for Leprosy Prevention Law," and "The Struggle for Fundamental Human Rights," in line with the contents of the exhibition. In the second half, we listened to a tape of the testimony of Torao Suzuki, an inmate of Tama Zenshoen who led the struggle, and explained it, and finally, as a summary, we talked about the significance of the struggle.

From the questionnaire

• I learned a lot from hearing the stories of Former leprosy patients, not as people receiving support, but as people fighting their own battles.
• By being able to listen to the actual audio of the exchange between Suzuki and Director Hayashi, I was able to get a better sense of how much thought they put into their actions.
• Leprosy Prevention Law laws. Amidst society's lack of understanding and discrimination, I was able to understand the earnest feelings of the patients.
• Why do people discriminate? I feel indescribable when I think of those who are discriminated against, isolated, and placed in difficult situations, even though they have daily lives that make them feel good about being human. Also, there are always people who do not give in to the cruel situation they find themselves in and raise their voices. I want to walk alongside those people, and I also want to be the person who raises my voice and asks, ``Isn't this situation strange?''
• This event allowed us to vividly capture the era of struggle. Thank you. In the future, I would like to see exhibitions and events related to what kind of living environment the Zenshoen had at the time, and how they were able to balance struggle and life. I am particularly interested in the trends of people with disabilities.
• Since I will not be able to go to the museum to see the special exhibition during the exhibition period, I would appreciate it if you could use slides to explain the details in detail. When read from a modern perspective, the ``content of the bill requested by All-Japan National Leprosaria Patients' Association'' is a very natural hope, but it is always difficult to overcome the ``natural'' (social customs) of the past. I felt this keenly. The more I learn about Hansen's Disease, the more profound I feel that it is connected to various problems in modern society, including discrimination.
• I could clearly see that the curators were very thorough in researching and researching the primary sources. Although this event took place 70 years ago, I realized that it is connected to various issues facing Japan today. thank you very much.
• There were many things I didn't know, and it was a fulfilling time to actually hear from the curator. In a sense, exhibitions are one-way, but Museum Talk was an exhibition that responded to my needs, and I felt like I was able to learn more than just the exhibition. I would like to participate again.
• Thank you for talking with me. Even today, there is discrimination that makes it difficult for people affected by Hansen's disease to live, and it is unfortunate that there are situations in which people affected by Hansen's disease and their families have to become defensive because the correct understanding is not known by the people who make up society. I thought that activities like this one, such as museums and lectures, are important.
• Thank you for your detailed explanation of the specific progress of the "Leprosy Prevention Law Fight". In particular, I was able to learn about the methodology and background of the All-Japan National Leprosaria Patients' Association movement at the time, as well as the responses of the government, political parties, and organizations, and the discriminatory viewpoints toward Leprosy recovered persons. We would like to thank all the staff and curators who made the preparations.

… We have received many other answers. Thank you very much.

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≪Contact us≫
The National Hansen's Disease Museum Museum Talk Manager mt@nhdm.jp
*We are unable to respond on closed days or after 12:00 on the day of the event. Please contact us in advance.