[Kensuke Mitsuda and his memory of the "Kaishun Byoshitsu" days: why did he not clearly state the time of its foundation?].
The author, in a previous paper, has argued that there is no hard evidence to show that the foundation of the "Kaishun Byoshitsu" in the Tokyo City Yoikuin (poorhouse) was in 1899. In developing the conclusion, this article, first, estimates the correct time of the founding the facility and, second, analyzes the reasons for confusing the verbal evidence of Kensuke Mitsuda that led to the prevalence of the incorrect story. As to the former, it is an undoubted fact that the founding year was 1901 or 1902, as the author has checked the career of Koto Ishiwata, a nurse who exclusively served the Kaishun Byoshitsu, and the documents which shows a historical change in layout and floor space of its rooms. As for the latter, by reviewing "the medical staff" system of the yoikuin (poorhouse), the author shows the background of Mitsuda's unfortunate days when he served there. The author finally suggests that Mitsuda's inferiority feelings about his misfortune might have caused his disordered testimonies, in other words, "an artificial memory".
Hirai
Yuichiro
Y
D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D007918:Leprosy / Q000266:history*; D010356:Patient Isolation / Q000266:history*; D014041:Tokyo