National Hansen's Disease Museum, Medical museum in Higashimurayama, Japan.
The National Hansen's Disease Museum is a medical institution in Aobachō dedicated to documenting leprosy and its treatment across Japanese history. Its galleries house exhibits, photographs, and artifacts spanning multiple historical periods related to the disease and medical responses to it.
The institution opened in 1993 as Prince Takamatsu Memorial Museum and was renamed in 2007 following a court decision that declared the Leprosy Prevention Law unconstitutional. This name change reflected Japan's official reckoning with the injustices inflicted on patients.
The museum displays personal belongings and testimonies from former patients that reflect their experiences in Japanese sanatoriums. These objects help visitors understand the lives and stories of people who lived through this period.
The museum is located in Aobachō and is accessible by local bus services, with clear signage on-site for navigation. It is open daily from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM, except Mondays when it remains closed.
The museum maintains a close working relationship with the neighboring National Sanatorium Tama Zenshoen, where residents actively contributed to fundraising and helped shape the exhibits on display. This partnership makes the institution a direct reflection of the community it serves.
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