Efforts to pass down the history of leprosy Takamatsu Oshima National Sanatorium

Efforts to pass on the history of leprosy Takamatsu Oshima National Sanatorium Nov. 15 17:40

In order to deepen the understanding of the former patients with leprosy and the circumstances of their families, residents in Takashima City, Oshima, where the National Sanatorium is located, not only talk about their experiences, but also begin a new way of telling history. It is.

In Oshima in Takamatsu City, where only residents and staff of the national sanatorium for leprosy “Oshima Aomatsu-en” live, the residents of the sanatorium continue to make efforts to share their experiences with those who visited the island.

On the 13th of this month, Hiroshi Nomura (83), who entered from Kochi Prefecture at the age of 16, was in front of 24 people gathered from companies in Kagawa Prefecture. The person who heard the story told that "the voice of the severely discriminated student was shocked." It was right. "

On the other hand, at Oshima Seishoen, the number of residents who exceeded 700 at the peak has now decreased to 51, and the average age will be 85. Has become an issue.

Meanwhile, the first curator was appointed to the sanatorium in March last year, and in April, the diorama that recreated Oshima in the 1955's with a size of 1/150 and the residents used it. A museum that collects daily necessities and love reading has opened.

Also, since 2010, the Seto Inland Sea islands have been held once every three years, and the “Setouchi International Art Festival” is one of the venues.

At the first art festival, the dissecting table of the patient who was no longer in the sanatorium was lifted from the beach where it was left unattended for many years and displayed for 107 days until the 4th of this month. At the festival, more than 12,000 people visited the island's art works.

Among these works, the work produced by Seizo Tajima, an artist who grew up in Kochi Prefecture, was exhibited for the first time at this art festival, and the life of Nomura in his hometown was married to a resident woman and between the women. It was reproduced in five scenes, including the forced extinction of a child, and even after the art festival is over, you can still watch it on the second Saturday and Sunday of the month if you wish.

Nomura said, “I was disgusted and embarrassed at first, but there were fewer people who could talk about their experiences, and I thought that I needed something that would leave testimony to future generations. There were many people who had a hard time through the work. I want many people to know. "