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Japan Specialist Seminars

Specialist Seminars

The history and struggle of Zainichi Koreans in a sanatorium for Hansen’s disease in Japan”'s Details
Theme The history and struggle of Zainichi Koreans in a sanatorium for Hansen’s disease in Japan”
Presenter KIM Kwuy-Bun (the Chief Curator in National Leprosy Library in Japan)
Time April 12, 2022 (Tuesday) 12:30-14:00
Venue Zoom Webinar
No. 262
Discussion
On April 12 2022, the 262th Japan Specialist Seminar was hosted via Zoom. With more than thirty participants, KIM Kwuy-Bun, the Chief Curator in National Leprosy Library in Japan, made a presentation titled “History and Struggles of Zainichi in Japanese Leprosy Sanatorium”. The below is the summary.
The lecturer introduced the history of Leprosy in Japan as well as the history of Korea, reflecting the historical context of Japanese Colonization of Korea and post-Independence. Later, she explained the Leprosy that Zainichi Korean in Japan (hereby Zainichi) suffered. In the pre-war period, the majority of Zainichi were labor migrants or compulsorily mobilized. Since environmental factors such as hygiene were critical in the development of leprosy, Zainichi who were living in poor-quality environments were put into the Leprosy Sanatorium more compared to other groups of people. Zainichi were forced to participate in labors after the admission.
Zainichi with Leprosy not only were restricted from their daily activities under Leprosy Prevention Act, their residential status changed from “Imperial Subject” to “Foreigners”. Because of the Immigration Control System, they became the subject of management and control when it comes to foreign travels. Hence, they were forced to disperse from their family. Along with the implementation of Enforcement of the National Pension Act, Zainichi were unable to enjoy peaceful lives due to the economic gap that existed in the Sanatorium.
The Q/A followed after the presentation. There was a question about marriage in the Sanatorium. The presenter answered that the marriage was officially recognized yet pointed out how the sterilization process including abortion was prerequisited for marriage. Such inhumane deeds in post-war Japan were revealed after the court action in 2005. The presenter added that since there were more male patients than women, it was more difficult for males to get married.
There were also discussions about the percentages of non-Zainichi among the patients; marriage-related issues in the Sanatorium; management system and members of the remaining Sanatorium; statistics about pre-war and post-war Zainichi patients; future tasks ; issues of independence and self-sufficient livings; Sorok Island Sanatorium and Cultural festivals held in Sanatorium.
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