Fighting prejudice in Japan : the families of Hansen's disease patients speak out

This collection of twelve life stories delves into the experiences of families of Hansen's Disease (Leprosy) patients who tell their own stories in their own words. In detailed interviews spanning more than ten years, Ai Kurosaka presents their struggles from the previously neglected perspective of family members of patients. The storytellers tell how they were torn by experiences of separation, discrimination and broken relationships. Like fugitives, many spent years hiding the truth and deceiving others to protect themselves and their families, and they reveal how this affected their relationships with others, but also with themselves. These recollections reveal agony and repentance, but are also stories of resilience that show the courage of the storytellers in speaking up and in challenging the government's policy on Hansen's Disease. This book breaks the silence of families of Hansen's Disease patients and seeks to restore relationships for families of patients and the wider society.

Figure Photographs Acknowledgements Introduction Short History of Hansen's Disease in Japan Part I: Stories as Told by Daughters and Sisters Episode 1: Restored Memories Episode 2: Thanking Parents for Giving Birth to Me Episode 3: Painful Consciousness of Hating My Own Father Episode 4: I Should Have Been Nicer to My Father Episode 5: Never Ever Moving Away Episode 6: Living in the Sanatorium despite Being a Non?patient Part II: Stories as Told by Sons and Brothers Episode 7: Son of a 'Leper' Episode 8: At the Forefront of the Bereaved Families' Lawsuit Episode 9: Forced out of High School Episode 10: Growing up without Knowing Parents Episode 11: Proudly Born in Wak?en Episode 12: Unfulfilled Aspirations Conclusion Notes References Further Reading Index