Conscientious

"In 1907 Japan enacted the Leprosy Prevention Law. Under this new segregation policy, and despite the fact that a cure had been developed, Japanese authorities forced thousands of patients to be confined in sanatoriums. Japan's lepers remained quarantined until the law was repealed in 1996. [...] Since the law was revoked [...] very few have left the sanatoriums, most have no place to go and no families awaiting their return. These islands are still home to the majority of Japan's lepers." (story and photos by Luc Novovitch)