Okinawa Airakuen Sanatorium


Okinawa Airakuen Sanatorium, is a sanatorium for leprosy patients or ex-leprosy patients at Sumuide, Nago, Okinawa, Japan that was established in 1938.

History

History before the sanatorium

Major changes

On November 10, 1938, the sanatorium first opened under the name "Okinawa Prefectural Kunigami Airakuen Sanatorium." By April 1941 it was renamed and thus known as the National Kunigami Airakuen Sanatorium.
Nearly 400 new leprosy patients were hospitalized by the Japanese army in September 1944 for a total of around 913 patients. This high population led to food deficiency, and housing conditions were miserable. When the Battle of Okinawa began in April 1945, sanatorium director Hiroshi Hayata allowed patients to leave in order to avoid the battle. By the end of April, American forces had occupied the sanatorium.

After the war

Year
Number of
in-patients
2003355
2004341
2005326
2006309
2007291
2008276