- The Leprosy Prevention Law was abolished in 1996. This finally ended the segregation policy that had existed for 90 years.
- The residents and those who reintegrated into society filed a suit against the government for violating their basic human rights through the Hansen’s disease policy. ("Leprosy Prevention Act" Unconstitutional State Compensation Claim Case 1998)
- In 2001, the Kumamoto District Court ruled that the government policy was unconstitutional. The ruling was finalized with a government decision not to appeal the case.
- This obligated the government to compensate the people affected by Hansen’s disease and take appropriate measures to eliminate social stigma and discrimination.
- Each sanatorium is now formulating its own future plan, each with its particular characteristics, such as building nurseries or old peoples’ homes with high-quality medical services and living conditions so that the residents can spend as fulfilling a life as possible.
