Yasuragi General Hall was built in 1993 to replace the worship hall, a religious facility established on the north side of Keifuen that was demolished after sustaining damage from typhoons in 1991. It has become the place for the sanatorium’s residents to perform Buddhist memorial services, funerals, and other religious events. Funeral rituals unique to sanatoriums for Hansen’s Disease have taken place here. In many cases, residents have had their ties with relatives cut and cannot expect to have funerals carried out for them after they pass away. For this reason, a system was created where residents, while still alive, appoint a fellow resident they are close to to take on the responsibility of following through with the procession. At Keifuen, the individuals chosen to perform the funeral for the deceased are called sewanin, or “caretakers.” With residents getting older, however, continuing with this caretaker system has become increasingly difficult. Now, the challenge is addressing how the memories of those who have lived with the burden of Hansen’s Disease should be carried forward.
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National Sanatorium Kikuchi Keifuen History museum
Funeral rituals unique to sanatoriums for Hansen’s Disease have taken place here. In many cases, residents have had their ties with relatives cut and cannot expect to have funerals carried out for them after they pass away. For this reason, a system was created where residents, while still alive, appoint a fellow resident they are close to to take on the responsibility of following through with the procession. At Keifuen, the individuals chosen to perform the funeral for the deceased are called sewanin, or “caretakers.”
With residents getting older, however, continuing with this caretaker system has become increasingly difficult. Now, the challenge is addressing how the memories of those who have lived with the burden of Hansen’s Disease should be carried forward.