was a Japanese physician. He invented a Murata's method for the serodiagnosis of syphilis, and studied leprosy. He worked at the Osaka Prefectural Sotojima Sanatorium and was the director between 1926 and 1933. He treated leprosy patients as respectable persons. After the Sotojima Incident, in which communists were against religious societies, he resigned as the director of the sanatorium. Later, he personally studied leprosy at his house, and died in 1974.

Life

• In 1884, he was born in Kochi Prefecture
  Kochi Prefecture
  is a prefecture of Japan located on the south coast of Shikoku. The capital is the city of Kōchi.- History :Prior to the Meiji Restoration, Kōchi was known as Tosa Province and was controlled by the Chosokabe clan in the Sengoku period and the Yamauchi family during the Edo period.- Geography...
  
  . When he was studying laws, he was interested in leprosy since a woman he knew developed leprosy. He asked Kensuke Mitsuda
  Kensuke Mitsuda
  was a Japanese leprologist and director of the Tama Zenshoen Sanatorium and the National Sanatorum Nagashima Aiseien. He had been at the frontier of leprosy policy of Japan. He was given the Order of Cultural Merits and Damien-Dutton Award...
  
   for advice, and studied medicine at Tokyo University following his advice. He worked in the Institute of Infectous Diseases and invented the Murata's method for serodiagnosis of syphilis
  Syphilis
  Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the spirochete bacterium Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum. The primary route of transmission is through sexual contact; however, it may also be transmitted from mother to fetus during pregnancy or at birth, resulting in congenital syphilis...
  
  . In 1926 he assumed the post of the director of Osaka Prefectural Sotojima Sanatorium. In 1928, he was one of the founders of the Japanese Leprosy Association, together with Kensuke Mitsuda
  Kensuke Mitsuda
  was a Japanese leprologist and director of the Tama Zenshoen Sanatorium and the National Sanatorum Nagashima Aiseien. He had been at the frontier of leprosy policy of Japan. He was given the Order of Cultural Merits and Damien-Dutton Award...
  
  .

The Sotojima Incident and the Typhoon Muroto

• When he assumed the post of the director, the sanatorium was a dark society with a lot of gamblings, and the public morals were very low. First he improved the meals (daily cost improved from 13 sen to 22 sen(the lower units than yen) and admitted the autonomy of patients. In 1932, communists came into the sanatorium, and his attitude toward the autonomy of patients was mistaken for his favoring communism. After severe questioning at the police, he decided to quit in 1933, later he studied leprosy without assuming any posts. He released communists giving each person 10 yen for peace. In 1934, the sanatorium met the severest Muroto typhoon, and many patients and worked died. Survivors were sent to other sanatoriums, and the new Oku-Komyoen Sanatorium was established in 1938 in Nagashima neighboring the Nagashima Aiseien Sanatorium
  Nagashima Aiseien Sanatorium
  , or the National Sanatorium Nagashima Aiseien, is a sanatorium for leprosy or ex-leprosy patients on the island of Nagashima in Setouchi, Okayama, Japan, which was founded in 1930.-Background:...
  
  , which was the succession to the Sotojima Hoyoen.

Character

• He was said to be an "Igossoh", a stubborn person who sticks to his principles. As to leprosy patients, he respected their autonomy, while Kensuke Mitsuda
  Kensuke Mitsuda
  was a Japanese leprologist and director of the Tama Zenshoen Sanatorium and the National Sanatorum Nagashima Aiseien. He had been at the frontier of leprosy policy of Japan. He was given the Order of Cultural Merits and Damien-Dutton Award...
  
  led patients, while he regarded himself as the father of the family.

External links

• Photo of Dr. Murata, Oct 11, 2010