Admission fee free

Photographer Mikio Suzuki (1949-) visited the national sanatorium National Sanatorium Okinawa Airaku-en in Nago City, Okinawa Prefecture, 50 years before now, shortly after “returning to the mainland.” Suzuki carefully recorded with a camera how people and patients who have recovered from leprosy live in quarantine and live their daily lives. In a society where discrimination and prejudice remain strong, it was extremely difficult for ordinary residents to reveal their faces and names. Nevertheless, Suzuki's photographs show each person living hard to enrich their lives even a little while facing loneliness and sadness. In 2025, a traveling photo exhibition will be held at satellite venues in Kyoto and Tokyo, with Okinawa as the main venue to coincide with the publication of the photo book “Memories of Life - National Sanatorium Okinawa Airaku-en 1975” by Akabusha.

●Okinawa Okinawa Airaku-en Kouryu Kaikan (Exchange center) (main venue)
1st semester 5/17 (Sat) to 7/23 (Wed)
Second semester 7/26 (Sat) to 10/31 (Fri)

opening event
5/17 (Sat) 14:00
Ryukyu koto music (performed by Kyoko Kosoko and others)
Recitation drama “Island” (by Sadatoshi Oshiro)
Cast: Asao Kamiezu/Rokue Takamiyagi (UO Association)

Music & talk
7/26 (Sat) 13:30
Music: DK1975
Gallery Talk: Mikio Suzuki x Tsuji Chuo (curator of the museum)

Jazz live
10/24 (Friday) 14:00
Murata Hiroshi & The Friends

●PURPLE (Kyoto)
5/23 (Friday) to 6/22 (Sun)

SUZUKI Mikio Gallery Talk
5/23 (Friday) 14:00

Kodan
5/24 (Sat) 14:00
“The Sound of the Wind: National Sanatorium Okinawa Airaku-en Edition” by Ichitake Hiroshi
Kodanshi: Kyokudo Nanshu

●TOBICHI (Tokyo)
6/26 (Thu) to 7/13 (Sun)

SUZUKI Mikio Gallery Talk
6/26 (Thu) 14:00

https://sites.google.com/view/airakuen-historymuseum/%E5%91%BD%E3%81%AE%E8%A8%98%E6%86%B6%E6%B2%96%E7%B8%84%E6%84%9B%E6%A5%BD%E5%9C%921975