Kusatsu Special Prison

Kusatsu Special Prison was a prison that operated between 1938 and 1947, in Kuryu Rakusen-en Sanatorium in Kusatsu Onsen, Kusatsu town, Gunma Prefecture, Japan, where criminals in public leprosariums throughout Japan were imprisoned. Prisons for conventional crimes had been built earlier in all public leprosariums. 22 out of 93 prisoners died of cold or maltreatment in the cells or after confinement. In Japanese, it was called Tokubetsu Byoshitsu (特別病室, Special Ward) or Jyu Kanbo (重監房, Prison for Severe Crimes).

Kusatsu Special Prison
Jyu-kanbo (special hospital ward) National Museum of Detention for Hansen's Disease Patients
Geography
LocationKusatsu Onsen, Kusatsu town, Gunma Prefecture, Japan
Organisation
TypePrison hospital, Leprosariums
History
Opened1938
Closed1947
Links
ListsHospitals in Japan

In 1909, the first public leprosy policy started in Japan, creating public leprosariums (sanatoriums) which accommodated wandering lepers; some of them criminals. In 1915, the treatment of criminals was discussed by leprosarium directors. In 1916, the leprosy prevention law was amended and this time, decisions of confinement and custody could be made by directors of leprosariums, reduction of meals (this was discontinued in 1947) and 30-day confinement in a leprosarium. Between 1912 and 1951, several riots took place in leprosariums.

The prison

Kusatsu Special Prison was completed at the end of 1938. There were 8 independent cells; each cell was less than 4.5m in size, with wooden floors with a hole as a latrine. There was a small hole for the distribution of meals. There was no heating system. The cells had tall walls and were physically separate from each other, each cell being a separate building entity. The temperature would often reach -20 °C. Administration, maintenance and repression were roles partaken by male nurses.

Statistics
  • Deaths in prison –14; deaths after confinement in prison – 8; survivors – 71; Total – 93
    • Months of death: Nov-Mar – 18, July-Aug – 3, Sep-Oct – 1; Total – 22
    • Mean days of confinement: 156 days for deaths within the cells; 239 days for deaths after confinement; 114 days for survivors; Mean – 131 days

Dispute
  • In March, 1947, Paul Rush, an American colonel physician, visited the sanatorium and heard the complaints of patients, and subsequently the patients sent a complaint letter, but received no response.[1]
  • On August l, Prince Takamatsu visited the sanatorium and entered the prison. He asked the sanatorium staff several questions. On August 11, Japan Communist Party members, in preparation for a coming upper house election, visited the sanatorium and were surprised to see the prison. On Aug. 22, discussions between patients and the sanatorium began.
  • When the diet problem was discussed, the director was changed and the responsible section-chief was dismissed.

Testimony

Jun Takada, 19 at that time, testified against the prison.

Transfer of dead bodies: The season was almost winter, and we had to obey the order of the doctors. It was about 9 or 10 in the morning. I carried about 5 or 6 bodies. The dead body was like a dried frog; he was dead and freezed. It was dark and violet in color. We covered him with futon, and carried the futon and placed the body on a stretcher. The place was dark and the door was going to close, and we shouted "Don't close".[2]

Kikuchi Medical Prison
Further information: Kikuchi Medical Prison

Notes and References
  1. The records of Hansen's disease Prison, Michio Miyasaka, Shueicha, 2006.2006.p155. from Kumamoto Nichinichi Shimbun, Aug 3, morning paper, 2002.
  2. The records of Hansen's disease Prison, Michio Miyasaka, Shueicha, 2006. ISBN 4-08-720339-5 C0212 Y660E p132-135
  • Fuusetsu no Mon, 50 years of Kuryu Rakusen-en, Jichikai, 1082.
  • A History of Leprosy in Japan. Shun-Ichi Yamamoto, Tokyo University Press, 1993.ISBN 4-13-066401-8 C3047 P8755E
  • The Records of Hansen's Disease Prison, Michio Miyasaka, Shueicha, 2006.ISBN 4-08-720339-5 C0212 Y660E
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