The Way of Sharing Hansen’s Disease Sufferers’ Experiences: Focusing on Dark Tourism in Kalaupapa and Oshimaseishoen

Abstract

This study shows the way to share experiences which Hansen’s disease sufferers have. Here, dark tourism as one of the activities for sharing Hansen’s disease sufferers’ experiences in Kalaupapa and National Sanatorium Oshimaseishoen, which are extremely isolated, was focused on. Dark tourism is presented around “death.” In addition, dark tourism can provide not only the places where we interact with Hansen’s disease sufferers but also new communications beyond the border of tourism. In conclusion, it is important to consider dark tourism from both “death” and “life” viewpoints, without any typification of people, that is, without any abstraction from the diversity of people’s existence.