Oku-Komyo-En Sanatorium

Oku-Komyo-En Sanatorium (光明園), or National Sanatorium Oku-Komyo-En is a sanatorium for leprosy or ex-leprosy patients on an island called Nagashima, Oku-machi, Setouchi, Okayama, Japan. On the same island is National Sanatorium Nagashima Aiseien. As of December 2, 2005, there were 252 residents (131 males and 121 females) in the Oku-Komyo-En.

History

Sotojima Hoyoen Sanatorium opened April 1, 1909 was opened in Nakashima, Nishiyodogawa-ku, Osaka for patients in Kyoto fu, Hyogo prefecture, Nara Prefecture, Wakayama prefecture, Mie prefecture, Shiga prefecture, Gifu Prefecture, Fukui Prefecture, Ishikawa Prefecture, Toyama Prefecture, and Tottori Prefecture.

The sanatorium, in a low area where the Kanzaki River flows into the sea, was hit by the Muroto typhoon on September 21, 1934. Casualties included 2,702 dead and 334 missing. In the sanatorium, a total of 187 people died, including 173 patients, 3 employees, and 11 family members. On September 24, 1934, the Interior Ministry decided on the transfer of 416 survivors to other sanatoriums. They included Nagashima Aiseien Sanatorium (78 patients), Kyushu Sanatorium (Kikuchi Keifuen Sanatorium) (50 patients), Ooshima Sanatorium (70 patients), Zensho Byoin (Tama Zenshoen Sanatorium (70 patients), Hokubu Hoyoen Sanatorium (50 patients), and Kuryu Rakusen-en Sanatorium (98 patients).

Timeline

• April 1938: Prefectural Oku-Komyo-En Sanatorium was opened at Nagashima Island, neighboring Nagashima Aiseien Sanatorium
• July 1941: National Leprosarium Oku-Komyo-En
• 1946: National Sanatorium Oku-komyo-En
• May 9, 1988: the Oku-Nagashima-Oohashi Bridge was completed from the mainland to the islands of Oku-Komyo-En and Nagashima Airakuen
• April 1996: The 1953 Leprosy Prevention Law was abolished
• July 1998: The trial for compensation started
• May 11, 2001: The trial for compensation ruled that the previous Leprosy Prevention was unconstitutional
• May 25, 2001: The trial for compensation was confirmed. The compensation of 8,000,000 yen to 14,000,000 yen was given to patients, depending on the duration of unconstitutional periods

Number of patients at end of fiscal year

The number of inpatients is the sum of patients which changed not only by the newly diagnosed hospitalized and those who died among in-patients, by other factors such as the number of patients who escaped or were discharged, depending on the condition of the times. Recently they were encouraged to be discharged, but the long period of the segregation policy causing leprosy stigma might influence the number of those who returned to society.

Number of inpatients by year

Year	Number of patients
1945	871
1950	839
1955	962
1960	968
1965	931
1970	809
1975	728
1980	658
1985	585
1990	503
1995	422
1999	345[1]

Number of inpatients by year

Year	Number of patients
2003	288
2004	267
2005	258
2006	244
2007	230
2008	215[2]

See also

• Leprosy in Japan
• Takekichi Sugai, the first physician at Sotojima Sanatorium
• Torajiro Imada, the first director of Sotojima Sanatorium

References

1. ^ Fukken Eno Jitsugetsu (2001) p.375 Zenkoku Hansenbyouryouyousho Nyuushosha Kyougikai, Kouyou Shuppansha, Tokyo
2. ^ http://www.eonet.ne.jp/~libell/4ryouyousyo.html