Though leprosy is an old disease that is 100% curable by medicines, there are over 600 leprosy villages in southern provinces of China housing over 40,000 ex-leprosy patients. Japanese artist Kosuke Okahara presents "Leprosy in China" at the Chobi Mela.

In the villages, there are people who are disabled but they are not patients of leprosy anymore. When multi-drug therapy came to available in China in the 80’s, people started recovering from the disease. However, these people are still isolated in the remote areas because of the long-lasting discrimination against ex-leprosy patients.

In many villages, people do not have an access to clean water and electricity, and live in very difficult conditions. They earn between 0 to 50 dollars in a month from the government. The economic situation of these villages is similar to that of poor farm villages that are left behind and ignored in China’s recent economic growth. However, things are tough enough in these villages since the many villagers are disabled and their average age is over 60 year.

Recent economic growth has made city life richer, however, the rural areas are left behind particularly those who are weaker in those societies. It is said the villages will disappear in 10 to 20 years since the villagers are getting older and will pass away. This is a story of the daily life of ex-leprosy patients who exist in the shade of China’s recent economic boom