**1. Introduction**

Due to social stigma, people with Hansen's disease are usually targets of discrimination, exclusion, and persecution. In modern times, those suffering with Hansen's disease were targeted by forced detention and lifelong isolation and in a manner of speaking were socially quarantined. Due to living in this extreme state, the experiences of Hansen's disease survivors actualize the existence of spirituality as spiritual pain and express human strength and the development of individuality as spiritual well-being. Therefore, their experiences are very important and similar to those experienced by Auschwitz or atom bomb survivors.

In this two-part study (see **Table 1**), we discuss spirituality though the experiences of Hansen's disease survivors. In the first report, we discuss the conceptual structure of spirituality and QOL and explain the history of Hansen's disease. In the second report, we answer the following questions through an analysis of a Hansen's disease survivor's life review: What is the level of suffering or 'spiritual pain' that makes a person consider suicide? What causes spiritual pain in those suffering with Hansen's disease? Furthermore, why do people with Hansen's disease experience spiritual well-being and development of individuality despite their spiritual pain?

Spirituality's conceptual structure and Hansen's disease history

#### **1. Introduction 1. Introduction**

#### **2. Quality of life and spirituality**


#### **3. Overview of history of Hansen's disease in Japan**


#### **4.Life review of Hansen's disease survivors**


#### **5. Conclusion 5. Conclusion**

#### **Part one Part two**

Accounts of spiritual pain and spiritual well-being by Hansen's disease survivors

	- 2-1. The life review of Hansen's disease survivors
	- 2-2. Overview of Mr.Takahisa Yamamoto's life review
	- 2-3. Analysis method for construction
	- 2-4. Construction of Mr. Takahisa Yamamoto's spiritual pain

#### **3. The process of recovering from spiritual pain for a Hansen's disease survivor**


#### **4. Spiritual well-being of aging Hansen's disease survivors**


#### **Appendix**

Mr. Takahisa Yamamoto's life review (An excerpt only from the section that discusses spiritual pain)

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**Figure 1.**

*Our life review books [1].*

*Spirituality and Hansen's Disease: Spirituality' Conceptual Structure and Hansen's Disease...*

Our book contains life reviews of 19 Hansen's disease survivors living in Oshima Seisho-en (see **Figure 1**) [1]. The significance of publishing the book is explained in the first report. Each survivor talks about their childhood before having Hansen's disease, the shock and suffering that followed the diagnosis, till the time that they entered the sanatorium, discrimination and exclusion in their hometown, the parents affection and worry to protect them, inconvenience faced by their brothers and sisters, various symptoms and cures, the bad experiences in the sanatorium, romantic alliances, support from friends at the sanatorium, fighting against the government, and current feelings and thoughts in their old age. The subject of the book is summarized as "*Deeply Deeply Closing Our Eyes in Order to See What We Truly Should See,*" which is the subtitle of the book and has been penned by poet Ms. Yoshiko Takagi.

**2. Spiritual pain experienced by a Hansen's disease survivor**

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.92735*

**2.1 The life review of Hansen's disease survivors**

#### **Table 1.**

*Table contents about the first report and the second report about 'Spirituality and Hansen's disease'.*

*Spirituality and Hansen's Disease: Spirituality' Conceptual Structure and Hansen's Disease... DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.92735*
