Career
She was diagnosed as having leprosy, and hospitalized at Koyama Fukusei Hospital in 1919. lieutenant proved a misdiagnosis three years later, but she was deeply impressed by Drouart de Lézey, the director of the hospital, and was determined to work as a nurse with leprosy patients. In 1961, she was awarded the Florence Nightingale Meda
"Kohyama Fukusei Hospital" or "Kōyama Fukusei Hospital".
Koyama Fukusei Hospital is described in the reference and Koyama Fukusei Hospital
On October 23, 1897 she was born in Taipei, Formosa (now Taiwan) as a daughter of a congressman, Hikosaburo Ibuka. She graduated from Doshisha Women"s College(now University), and she was teaching English at Nagasaki, when she developed a skin change, which was diagnosed as a sign of leprosy.
She was hospitalized at Koyama Fukusei Hospital without knowing the diagnosis. The diagnosis was shocking to her.
Since her disease did not progress, she sought the diagnosis of Professor
Keizo Dohi of Tokyo University in 1922. Leprosy was denied. Observing the director of the hospital, she was determined to work for leprosy patients and became a nurse In 1923, she became the only one qualified nurse at the hospital.
She had remained the chief nurse at the hospital until April 6, 1978, when she became the honorary chief nurse
Her dedication to leprosy patients was highly appreciated. She became the first president of Japan Catholic Nurses" Association.
She died on May 15, 1989, one day before the 100th year anniversary of the Koyama Fukusei Hospital. On May 16, she was given a special award by Princess Takamatsu (Kikuko) of Japan.
Masaru Ibuka of Sony was her remote relative.
