Abe offers direct apology to kin of leprosy patients

July 24, 2019

Toky--Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met relatives of former and current leprosy patients on Wednesday, conveying the government's apology for its now-defunct isolation policy, which facilitated discrimination against not just patients but also their relatives.

"On behalf of the government, I offer a heartfelt apology," Abe told the relatives at the prime minister's office.

Abe's face-to-face apology followed a decision by his government not to file an appeal against a ruling by Kumamoto District Court late last month ordering the government to pay a total of about 376 million yen in damages to plaintiffs who are relatives of former leprosy patients.

At the meeting, the prime minister vowed to carry out compensatory measures not only for the plaintiffs in the lawsuit but also others whose relatives were leprosy patients.

Abe admitted that "extremely strong prejudice and discrimination" were also directed toward patients' relatives, who were left in "tremendous pain and hardship for a long time."

"I promise that the government will start consultations (with leprosy patients' relatives) promptly and work together to eradicate the prejudice and discrimination," he said.

Chikara Hayashi, who led the group of plaintiffs in the lawsuit, expressed appreciation for the government's decision to accept the Kumamoto court ruling.

"Prejudice and discrimination against the disease are still alive," Hayashi told Abe. "We hope the government will make all-out efforts to correct misunderstandings (about the disease) in society through educational activities."

At a press conference later on Wednesday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said the government will consider details of compensatory measures for the relatives of leprosy patients promptly while listening to their wishes. Jiji Press