Hiroshi Shima (1918-2003) is a representative artist who was active in a Leprosy sanatorium. The year 2018 marks the 100th anniversary of his birth.
Born in Kagawa Prefecture, he attended Oshimaseishoen and Hoshizuka Keiaien before returning to society in his later years.
He presided over the literary coterie magazine "Volcanic Zone" for 40 years, and through his novels and critiques, he fought against social prejudice and discrimination, sought interaction with society, and appealed for the revision and repeal of Leprosy Prevention Law. He was also the first person to file Lawsuit Claiming Compensation from the Government for Hansen's Disease, which won a complete victory for the plaintiffs.
This gallery exhibition aims to trace the indomitable life of Hiroshi Shima, a man who lived his life for writing, through handwritten manuscripts, handwritten letters, photographs, and more, and to widely introduce his character and the world of his work.