- The Japanese constitution was promulgated one year after the end of the Second World War, in 1946. The constitution clearly guarantees basic human rights for all citizens, including Hansen’s disease patients.
- It was in 1947 that the first drug to treat HD, Promin, was introduced.
- At about the same time many incidents of violation against the rights of patients became evident. The patients were very angry and appealed to the government and staff of the sanatoria for improvement of the situation.
- The patients stood up and established residents’ associations and nationwide organizations to represent the voices of resistance of the patients against forced isolation.They took action to demand the improvement of medical services and life in the sanatoriums.
- As time went on people who had been cured left the sanatoria or went to work outside. Yet, they had to hide the fact that they had once been affected by Hansen’s disease.
