The Supreme Court upheld April 16 a high court ruling that posthumously recognized a woman as a victim of Minamata disease, an industrial-related malady caused by mercury poisoning.
The top court handed down the decision on a lawsuit filed by relatives of Chie Mizoguchi, including her son Akio. The suit argued that the Kumamoto Prefectural Government unfairly rejected her claim of having the disease.
Mizoguchi, a resident of Minamata, Kumamoto Prefecture, died in 1977 at the age of 77. (Kyodo)
最高裁は4月16日、熊本県の女性を水俣病患者と認定するという高等裁判所の判決を支持、熊本県が女性の水俣病患者申請を不当に棄却したと判断した。
The Japan Times ST: April 26, 2013