Kusatsu Special Prison was a prison present between 1938 and 1947, built in Kuryu Rakusen-en Sanatorium in Kusatsu Onsen, Kusatsu town, Gunma Prefecture, Japan, where criminals in public leprosariums throughout Japan were imprisoned. Prisons for conventional crimes had been built earlier in all public leprosariums. 22 out of 93 prisoners died of cold or maltreatment in the cells or after confinement. In Japanese, it was called Tokubetsu Byoshitsu (特別病室,Special Ward) or Jyu Kanbo (重監房,Prison for Severe Crimes).
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Related history
In 1909, the first public leprosy policy started in Japan, creating public leprosariums (sanatoriums) which accommodated wandering lepers; some of them criminals. In 1915, the treatment of criminals was discussed by leprosarium directors. In 1916, the leprosy prevention law was amended and this time, decisions of confinement and custody could be made by directors of leprosariums, reduction of meals (this was discontinued in 1947) and 30-day confinement in a leprosarium. Between 1912 and 1951, several riots took place in leprosariums.
The prison
Kusatsu Special Prison was completed at the end of 1938. There were 8 independent cells; each cell was less than 4.5m in size, with wooden floors with a hole as a latrine. There was a small hole for the distribution of meals. There was no heating system. The cells had tall walls and were physically separate from each other, each cell being a separate building entity. The temperature would often reach -20 °C. Administration, maintenance and repression were roles partaken by male nurses.
Statistics
Dispute
Testimony
Transfer of dead bodies: The season was almost winter, and we had to obey the order of the doctors. It was about 9 or 10 in the morning. I carried about 5 or 6 bodies. The dead body was like a dried frog; he was dead and freezed. It was dark and violet in color. We covered him with futon, and carried the futon and placed the body on a stretcher. The place was dark and the door was going to close, and we shouted "Don't close".