Okinawa Airakuen Sanatorium

The Okinawa Airakuen Sanatorium (or National Sanatorium Okinawa Airakuen) is a sanatorium for current or former leprosy patients in Nago, Okinawa, Japan that was established in 1938.
History.
Major events.
On November 10, 1938, the sanatorium first opened as the Okinawa Prefectural Kunigami Airakuen Sanatorium. In April 1941 it was renamed as the National Kunigami Airakuen Sanatorium.
World War II.
Nearly 400 new leprosy patients were admitted by the Japanese army in September 1944 for a total of around 913 patients. The high population led to food shortages, and housing conditions were deplorable. When the Battle of Okinawa began in April 1945, the sanatorium director Hiroshi Hayata allowed patients to leave and avoid the battle. By the end of April, US forces had occupied the sanatorium.