Background: In recent years, a growing body of research has focused on the stigma faced by individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). These studies have revealed that people with COPD are prone to stigma. However, most studies have examined European and North American populations. The relationship between chronic disease and stigma can vary from culture to culture. Therefore, in order to explore whether there are cultural differences in the relationship between COPD and stigma, the present study investigates the relationship between stigma and COPD in Japan, which is one of the countries left unstudied.

Methods: Interviews were conducted with people diagnosed with COPD. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim for thematic analysis. Six men aged 65 years and older were interviewed.

Results: Four themes were found in the analysis: unobtrusiveness of COPD for people with COPD, strong self-recognition as an older adult, unobtrusiveness of COPD for family members and friends, and neither hiding nor emphasizing COPD. In Japan, people with COPD were found to suffer less from stigma, compared with their European and North American counterparts.