Keisai Aoki
Encyclopedia
was a Japanese missionary
who virtually paved the way to the establishment of Hansen's disease sanatorium Kunigami-Airakuen, Okinawa, Japan. At age 16, he developed leprosy and later, under the leadership
of Hannah Riddell
, he helped people with leprosy in Okinawa.
(at that time it was believed to be of help). In 1916 he entered the Oshima Leprosarium and was baptized in 1918. He helped with missionary work, and he sent a letter to Hannah Riddell
since he was worried about women's temptation. At Kusatsu
, he met Hannah who was vacationing there and decided to go to Hannah's Kaishun Hospital. He helped with missionary work. He cherished affection for Aiko Tamaki, and this worried him because this was against the Riddell's policy of sex segregation. He decided to go to Okinawa on missinary work at the strong suggestion of Riddell.
in 1938. In 1957, he became an official missionary of Okinawa Seikokai(Episcopal Church). On March 6, 1969, he died of myocardial infarction.
).
, Fumio Hayashi, the Kunigami Airakuen, now (Okinawa Airakuen Sanatorium
) was established with the leadership of Keisai Aoki.
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
who virtually paved the way to the establishment of Hansen's disease sanatorium Kunigami-Airakuen, Okinawa, Japan. At age 16, he developed leprosy and later, under the leadership
of Hannah Riddell
Hannah Riddell
Hannah Riddell was an English woman who devoted her life to the salvation of Hansen's disease patients in Japan.-Early life and her determination:...
, he helped people with leprosy in Okinawa.
Early history and Hannah Riddell
He was born in Tokushima Prefecture on April 8, 1893. His real name was Yasujiro Aoki. At age 16 he developed leprosy and everything did not help, including the pilgrimage of 88 holy places of ShikokuShikoku
is the smallest and least populous of the four main islands of Japan, located south of Honshū and east of the island of Kyūshū. Its ancient names include Iyo-no-futana-shima , Iyo-shima , and Futana-shima...
(at that time it was believed to be of help). In 1916 he entered the Oshima Leprosarium and was baptized in 1918. He helped with missionary work, and he sent a letter to Hannah Riddell
Hannah Riddell
Hannah Riddell was an English woman who devoted her life to the salvation of Hansen's disease patients in Japan.-Early life and her determination:...
since he was worried about women's temptation. At Kusatsu
Kusatsu
Kusatsu may refer to:* Kusatsu, Shiga, a city in western Japan** Kusatsu Line, operated by JR West**MIO Biwako Kusatsu, local football club* Kusatsu, Gunma, a town in eastern Japan** Kusatsu , operated by JR East**Thespa Kusatsu, local football club...
, he met Hannah who was vacationing there and decided to go to Hannah's Kaishun Hospital. He helped with missionary work. He cherished affection for Aiko Tamaki, and this worried him because this was against the Riddell's policy of sex segregation. He decided to go to Okinawa on missinary work at the strong suggestion of Riddell.
Okinawa and Okinawa Airakuen Sanatorium
With missionary Arato, he discovered people with leprosy living in caves or other places, first on Iejima Island, and later on Mainland Okinawa, and gave clothes and food and prayed. Angry people were hard on them. At one place, village people burned down the shabby houses of people with leprosy. 40 people had to live in a small island called Jalma Island. Later they landed at Yagaji Island and their land became the Kunigami (Later Okingawa) Airakuen Sanatorium Okinawa Airakuen SanatoriumOkinawa Airakuen Sanatorium
Okinawa Airakuen Sanatorium, is a sanatorium for leprosy patients or ex-leprosy patients at Sumuide, Nago, Okinawa, Japan starting in 1938.-major changes:...
in 1938. In 1957, he became an official missionary of Okinawa Seikokai(Episcopal Church). On March 6, 1969, he died of myocardial infarction.
Haiku
He composed many short poems (haikuHaiku
' , plural haiku, is a very short form of Japanese poetry typically characterised by three qualities:* The essence of haiku is "cutting"...
).
- Itamihete Shinjutonarinu Kaino Haru
- A pearl is produced, through pains, let's congratulate the shellfish, the season is spring.
- Saishinaki Ichidaishinto Ochibafuru
- Dead leaves fall On a Christian Without Wife and Children
- Koetekite, Hone o Uzumuru, Hito Ha kana
- Coming over to Okinawa, I am like a leaf, my bones will be buried here.
Leprosy situation in Okinawa before Aoki
It had been known that among prefectures, leprosy was most thickly distributed in Okinawa Prefecture in 1925, 1935 and 1940. The Okinawa Government was inconsistent concerning the building of leprosariums. In 1931, Miyako Hoyoen Sanatorium was established in Miyako Island, but opposition was strong in Okinawa mainland. Rioting and burning of houses of leprosy patients occurred. With the help of various organizations and Kensuke MitsudaKensuke Mitsuda
was a Japanese leprologist and director of the Tama Zenshoen Sanatorium and the National Sanatorum Nagashima Aiseien. He had been at the frontier of leprosy policy of Japan. He was given the Order of Cultural Merits and Damien-Dutton Award...
, Fumio Hayashi, the Kunigami Airakuen, now (Okinawa Airakuen Sanatorium
Okinawa Airakuen Sanatorium
Okinawa Airakuen Sanatorium, is a sanatorium for leprosy patients or ex-leprosy patients at Sumuide, Nago, Okinawa, Japan starting in 1938.-major changes:...
) was established with the leadership of Keisai Aoki.