Abstract
This study aimed to clarify the significance of a gathering space for patients with a chronic disease and their
relatives by thick descriptions of the space. Study 1 found that participants experienced the space as a venue
for "having a conversation that could be shared by patients suffering from the same disease" as well as for "just
being themselves, beyond the framework of whether they were ‘patients’ or ‘relatives,’" "providing incentives
for independent activities," and a "self-sufficient space." It also revealed the existence of a unique shared culture
characterized by "a relaxed atmosphere where anyone can speak out freely and honestly without hesitation,"
in which "each and every person is the main character," and "there is no fixed structure." Study 2 explored the
approaches adopted by the author in the roles of "researcher," "practitioner," and "patient." This study found that
this space provided all participants, including the author, with the opportunity to just "be themselves."
