Synopsis

Throughout its history, Japan has been repeatedly struck by devastating outbreaks of diseases such as smallpox, measles, and cholera. What explanations did people of the past offer for the origin of these epidemics, and how did they navigate such crises? This program explores Japan's enduring relationship with epidemics. Our guest is Yamamoto Satomi, an art historian who illuminates historical perceptions of disease through the lens of art and its figures. We will also examine a current phenomen