Koyama Fukusei Hospital


Koyama Fukusei Hospital is the oldest leprosy hospital in Japan. It was established by the Roman Catholic priest Germain Léger Testevuide of the Paris Foreign Missions Society in 1889, for treating leprosy in Japan and is thereby the oldest lepers' home in Japan. As of 2009, at the time of its closure as a leprosy hospital, there were 8 ex-leprosy residents. This hospital is now open to the general public as a clinic and a hospice for the terminally ill.

The spelling of the hospital

For pronunciation, "Kohyama Fukusei Hospital" and "Kōyama Fukusei Hospital" are more descriptive. But, "Koyama Fukusei Hospital" is considered to be a reliable English spelling.

History

This building was built in 1897 and had been used until 2002 as the main building of the hospital. It houses various memorial items such as chronological tables, photographs of directors, items of patients, documents and items concerning the Imperial Family, items of the 6th director Father Sohichi Iwashita and the first chief nurse Yae Ibuka.

Opinions of Father Lézey

Father Iwashita met Hannah Riddell in 1931 and wrote the following comments concerning her:
"I do not know how Riddell herself thinks, but observing her life story, I must admit a great mission has been achieved, regardless of whether she was aware or not. God selected Riddell and awakened the consciousness of people of Japan concerning leprosy problems. ""

Footnotes