A childhood memory of my high school days at Nagashima-Aiseien
Circa 2000 (Heisei 12) Watercolor pencil on paper Artist: Katsuhiko Private collection

This special exhibition features letters written to his family by a boy who was admitted to a sanatorium.
The letters are filled with the feelings of a boy separated from his family. Thirteen letters written over a seven-year period (1961-1967) from his time as a junior high school student at Kikuchi Keifuen Nagashima-Aiseien his time as a student at the Shinrada classroom of Oku High School at Nagashima Aiseien will be selected and exhibited.
At first glance, the letter gives the impression that the boy was living a life in the sanatorium that was common to everyone else in society. However, when he tried to reintegrate into society, he was constantly faced with the huge wall of prejudice and discrimination. Above all, in this exhibition, the letter's author is listed under the pseudonym "Katshiko." The boy is now 77 years old, but the wall still exists in that he cannot reveal his real name.
Who is it that can break down the wall that once stood in Katsuhiko's way, and that still stands today? Is it the boy himself? Or his family? Or perhaps each of us who live in society? We hope that this handwritten letter will encourage you to think about these questions.

1. Click here for the guidance video that was on display at the special exhibition
②Click here for the archived video of the reading session "A letter written by a quarantined boy to his family"
③Click here for the archived video of the lecture "Establishment of Oku High School's Shinrada Classroom and its Students"
④Click here for the archived video of the talk event "Oku High School Shinrada Classroom 1964-1968"

*In 2025, the special exhibition room will be unavailable due to air conditioning work, so the special exhibition will be held in the gallery on the first floor.

Special Exhibition Overview

[Date]
September 27th (Sat) to December 27th (Sat) 2025

【place】
The National Hansen's Disease Museum 1st floor Gallery

[Opening hours]
9:30am to 4:30pm (entry until 4pm)

[Closed days]
Mondays, the following day if Monday is a public holiday, and New Year's holidays

[Admission Fee]
free

*The above content may be changed without notice.

event information

Gallery talk 14:00▶14:40
*The event has ended.

The curator in charge of the special exhibition will provide an explanation. Each session is limited to 30 people, and the time may be changed depending on the number of people attending.
On ★ days, the explanation will be aimed at children.

Gallery Talk for Groups
*The event has ended.

A gallery talk will be held at the venue for groups of 10 to 30 people.
For applications, please contact the following:

<Inquiries regarding gallery talks for groups>
Manabu Tashiro (Curator), Project Division, Project Department The National Hansen's Disease Museum

Download the flyer here

There was an error in the affiliation of the speaker, Kazufumi Unai. We apologize for the error and have corrected it.
Incorrect Correct
Joyo University → Joyo leaf university

Please note that the download version has been corrected for the above issue.

Reading sessionwith sign language interpretation
A letter written by a quarantined boy to his family
*The event has ended.

◆ Saturday, September 27, 2025
14:00-15:00 (doors open at 13:30)

◆ Capacity: 130 people. Advance registration required via website

◆ Reader: Cho Minhwa

Actor. He has appeared in many films and TV dramas, including the NHK morning drama "Wings of the Tiger."
In 2007, he made his first film debut in the movie "New Hot Wall," which dealt with the Kikuchi Incident.
We will ponder the meaning of the letter from the isolated boy.

Archived video of the reading "A letter written by a quarantined boy to his family" can be found here

LecturesSign language interpretation available
Establishment of Oku High School Shinrada Classroom and its students
*The event has ended.

◆ October 26, 2025 (Sunday)
14:00-15:00 (doors open at 13:30)

◆ Capacity: 130 people. Advance registration required via website

◆ Lecturer: Kazufumi Unai

Associate Professor, Department of Sports and Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Production, Tokoha University.
He has conducted research on "isolation" and education, using Issues related to leprosy as a starting point, and has written many essays, particularly on the Shinrada classroom at Oku High School.
He will explain the significance of establishing the Shinrada classroom at Oku High School and the prejudice and discrimination that students have faced.

Click here for the archived video of the lecture "Establishment of the Shinrada Classroom at Oku High School and its Students"

Talk eventwith sign language interpretation
Oku High School Niirata Classroom 1964-1968
*The event has ended.

◆ Saturday, November 22, 2025
14:00-15:30 (doors open at 13:30)

◆ Capacity: 130 people. Advance registration required via website

The boy who wrote the letter entered the Shinrada classroom of Oku High School in 1964, and after four years of student life, graduated in 1968. What was his student life like during those four years? We have invited two of the boy's classmates to share their memories of that time.

Click here for the archived video of the talk event "Oku High School Shinrada Classroom 1964-1968"

 

Film screening
"New Hot Wall"
*The event has ended.

◆ Saturday, December 13, 2025
13:00-15:45 (doors open at 12:30)

◆ Capacity: 130 people. Advance registration required via website

*Advance registration is now closed as we have reached capacity.
If there are any cancellations, we will accept same-day reservations using numbered tickets from 12:00 on the day of the event.
Please note that there are a limited number of numbered tickets available.

©The New Hot Wall Film Production and Screening Committee

We will be screening a film about the Kikuchi Case. Mr. F, who was accused in the Kikuchi Case, continued to protest his innocence, supported by his interactions with society through letters.
We will deepen our understanding of the Kikuchi Incident, which remains a major issue in Issues related to leprosy today.

We will ponder the meaning of the letter from the isolated boy.

※Subtitles are available. If you would like a sign language interpreter for the opening and post-screening comments, please apply when registering below.
(Deadline for sign language interpreter applications is December 6th)

The above content may be changed without notice.
Please check The National Hansen's Disease Museum for more details.

 

<<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.