National Hansen's Disease Museum (Japan) 2.18

The National Hansen's Disease Museum is a museum in Higashimurayama, Tokyo, Japan that is dedicated to education about Hansen's disease (leprosy) and to eliminate discriminatory practices against its sufferers. It was formerly (1993–2007) named "His Imperial Highness Prince Takamatsu Memorial Museum of Hansen's Disease".The museum's purpose, located next to one of Japan's remaining leprosy sanatoriums, is to: To promote awareness of leprosy To represent and preserve the history of leprosy in Japan To show what persons affected by leprosy have achieved To help restore the dignity of persons affected by leprosy To demonstrate the importance of human rights and the linked need to end prejudice and discriminationHistoryFujio Ohtani wrote in a pamphlet "H.I.H. Prince Takamatsu Memorial Museum of Hansen's Disease": Our Museum was conceived as a commomerative undertaking for the Fortieth Anniversary of the Tofu Kyokai Foundation. While the construction plans were under way, the Leprosy Prevention Law still existed. All the parties involved ardently wished that this new Museum would function in a way to win the public support for abolition of the Law and to show the realities of the thirteen national and three religious associations affiliated Hansen's Disease sanatoria, which were known only to a limited number of people.TableJune 25, 1993 H.I.H. Prince Takamatsu Memorial Museum of Hansen's disease opened.March, 2004 The master plan of the renewed museum was completed.October, 2004 The 10th year memorial book was published.September, 2005 The museum was transiently closed.March, 2007, The renewed National Museum of Hansen's Diseae opened.