The Japanese Hospital in Broome remains the only hospital in Australia's history predominantly staffed, controlled and funded by a linguistically, culturally and geographically alien nation. Initially the proposal, challenging prevailing attitudes, was bitterly opposed by the white community, but the hospital became respected thanks to Dr Tadashi Suzuki, the hospital's first doctor, and his successors' clinical skills and compassion.
Keywords: Broome; Japanese Hospital; decompression sickness; diving; pearls.