(1)Elderly elephant moves to Japan's first forest sanitarium

(1)Elderly elephant moves to Japan's first forest sanitarium

KATSUURA, Japan - An elderly elephant, Akiko (L), moves to the Katsuura Elephants' Paradise, a forest sanitarium in Katsuura, Chiba Prefecture, on May 11. Akiko, who had stayed at a zoo in the prefecture after the closure last year of Hanshin Park in Hyogo Prefecture, is the first guest at Japan's first elephant sanitarium.

Japan's first elephant sanitarium opened

Japan's first elephant sanitarium opened

TOKYO, Japan - File photo shows Sayuri Sakamoto, a zoo administrator who has opened Japan's first sanitarium for elephants, the Katsuura Elephants' Paradise in Katsuura, Chiba Prefecture. On May 11, an elderly elephant, Akiko, moved to the forest sanitarium as the first guest at the facility.

Health minister visits leprosy sanitarium

Health minister visits leprosy sanitarium

KUMAMOTO, Japan - Health minister Chikara Sakaguchi (R) offers a prayer June 16 in front of a memorial for deceased leprosy patients at a leprosarium in the town of Koshi, Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan.

Health minister visits leprosy sanitarium

Health minister visits leprosy sanitarium

KUMAMOTO, Japan - Health minister Chikara Sakaguchi (R) offers a prayer June 16 in front of a memorial for deceased leprosy patients at a leprosarium in the town of Koshi, Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan.

Japan's first elephant sanitarium opened

Japan's first elephant sanitarium opened

TOKYO, Japan - File photo shows Sayuri Sakamoto, a zoo administrator who has opened Japan's first sanitarium for elephants, the Katsuura Elephants' Paradise in Katsuura, Chiba Prefecture. On May 11, an elderly elephant, Akiko, moved to the forest sanitarium as the first guest at the facility. (Kyodo)

(1)Elderly elephant moves to Japan's first forest sanitarium

(1)Elderly elephant moves to Japan's first forest sanitarium

KATSUURA, Japan - An elderly elephant, Akiko (L), moves to the Katsuura Elephants' Paradise, a forest sanitarium in Katsuura, Chiba Prefecture, on May 11. Akiko, who had stayed at a zoo in the prefecture after the closure last year of Hanshin Park in Hyogo Prefecture, is the first guest at Japan's first elephant sanitarium. (Kyodo)