National News 50 years since Minamata disease

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The city of Minamata, Kumamoto Prefecture, on May 1 marked the 50th anniversary of the Minamata mercury-poisoning disease, Japan's most serious pollution-related illness in the postwar period.

Around 1,000 people attended a service in a park next to Minamata Bay, which was contaminated by mercury dumped by Chisso Corp., in memory of the victims who died from the illness by eating contaminated fish.

Of 2,955 officially recognized Minamata disease patients, 2,009 had died as of the end of last March, while more than 3,800 patients are still waiting for official recognition as patients.

Minamata disease was first reported May 1, 1956, by a local hospital. Even before then, there had been reports of animals dying and people suffering symptoms such as sensory and visual impairment, and coordination problems.

Chisso Corp. was suspected but it denied responsibility and continued dumping mercury until 1968. The company was not officially blamed until 1973. (Kyodo, The Japan Times)

水俣病公式確認から50年

水俣病が公式に確認されてから5月1日で50年がたった。

Shukan ST: May 12, 2006

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