Kumamoto Marks 68th Anniv. since Minamata Disease Confirmation
Minamata, Kumamoto Pref., May 1 (Jiji Press)--A ceremony to mark the 68th anniversary of the official recognition of Minamata disease, a neurological disorder caused by polluted industrial wastewater, was held on Wednesday in Minamata, Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan.
The event was attended by 670 people, including those still suffering from symptoms, bereaved families of Minamata disease victims, Environment Minister Shintaro Ito and Ryuichi Koba, president of Chisso Corp., which released the wastewater.
They observed a moment of silence for the victims.
"Many people are still suffering from symptoms without relief," Toshio Kawabata, 73, said in a speech. He became eligible for support provided under the special law for the Minamata disease relief program that was enacted in 2009.
He called on the Japanese government, the Kumamoto prefectural government and Chisso to face the current situation of patients sincerely and boost efforts for fully resolving related issues.
(2024/05/01-18:54)
To read a full story, please click here to find out how to subscribe.
NATION
- 05/17 16:15 Japan Enacts Bill to Make Webcasts Mandatory for NHK
- 05/17 16:09 Japan Protests China, Russia over Treated Water
- 05/17 15:37 Political Group Head, 2 Others Nabbed for Tokyo Poll Obstruction
- 05/17 15:19 Japan Diet Panel OKs Bill on Training Foreign Workers
- 05/17 13:43 Japan to Utilize My Number Cards in Ambulance Transportation
- 05/17 13:13 Japan Passes Bill to Introduce "Blue Ticket" Fines for Cyclists
- 05/17 11:19 Meta Seeking Public Views on Threads Post Rapping Japan PM
- 05/17 08:34 Japan to Give Emergency Relief to Flood-Hit Afghanistan
- 05/16 21:58 China Brass Visit Japan under Exchange Scheme for 1st Time in 5 Yrs
- 05/16 21:33 Japan Top Court to Take Measures for Disabled Plaintiffs
- 05/16 20:52 Billionaire Maezawa Sues Meta over Fake Social Media Ads
- 05/16 19:35 Hiroshima, Nagasaki Mayors Rebut U.S. Politician's A-Bomb Remarks
- 05/16 19:08 Kishida, New Singapore PM Agree to Strengthen Bilateral Ties
- 05/16 19:07 LDP Panels OK Policy Activity Funds Disclosure Rules
- 05/16 18:04 U.S. Aircraft Carrier Ronald Reagan Leaves Japan
- 05/16 17:17 Univ. Applicant Referred to Prosecutors over Use of Smart Glasses
- 05/16 16:10 Japan Rattled by Drone Video of Key Destroyer
- 05/16 15:35 Kishida Cabinet's Support Rate Edges Up: Jiji Poll
- 05/16 13:57 Japan to Develop Some Parts for New Interceptor Project with U.S.
- 05/16 12:44 Nabbed Vietnamese Men May Be Involved in Serial Robberies in Japan
- 05/16 12:01 (Update) Japanese Composer Kida Dies at 93
- 05/16 09:50 Japanese Composer Kida Dies at 93
- 05/16 00:01 LDP, Komeito Fail to Reach Accord on Political Funds Law Revision
- 05/15 21:22 Taipei Mayor Meets Japanese Ruling Party Officials in Tokyo
- 05/15 20:17 Fukushima N-Plant to Start Fresh Round of Water Release Friday
- 05/15 19:41 Japan Begins Review of Basic Energy Plan amid Spread of AI
- 05/15 19:21 Japan Govt Now Monitoring All 583 Designated Security Areas
- 05/15 17:55 Meta Ready to Testify at Japan's Parliament over Scam Ads
- 05/15 17:44 Smart Glasses Allegedly Used to Leak Univ. Entrance Exams
- 05/15 17:20 Visitors to Japan Up 4 Pct from Prepandemic Level in April
- 05/15 16:59 Ex-Japanese Univ. Prof. Gets 6 Yrs in Prison in China
- 05/15 16:35 Kishida Defends Planned Rule to Revoke Foreigners' Residency
- 05/15 15:20 Court Rejects Petition to Halt Shimane N-Reactor
- 05/15 13:51 Register for Hiroshima A-Bomb Victims Got Aired
- 05/15 13:03 Japan Enacts Bill to Lower Mandatory Tender Offer Threshold
- 05/15 10:33 Ohtani's Ex-Interpreter Appears in L.A. Court over Fraud
- 05/14 22:24 17,000 Elderly Living Alone Died at Home in Jan.-March: Japan Survey
- 05/14 22:01 Japan to Review Romanization System for 1st Time in 70 Years
- 05/14 21:33 30 Deaths Recognized as Indirectly Caused by Noto Quake
- 05/14 20:47 LDP to Write Draft Funds Law Revision Bill First
- 05/14 19:50 Figure Skater Shoma Uno Upbeat on Retirement
- 05/14 19:28 Diet Ethics Panel to Screen 44 LDP Lawmakers over Money Scandal
- 05/14 19:22 Japan Worried over U.S. Officials' Remarks on Atomic Bombings
- 05/14 19:09 Kidney Cancer Mutation Found in 70 Pct of Japan Patients: Study
- 05/14 18:57 42 Victims Remembered 33 Years after Shiga Train Collision
- 05/14 16:03 (Update) 3 Killed in Expressway Accident near Tokyo
- 05/14 15:55 Japan Producer Prices Rise 0.9 Pct in April
- 05/14 14:17 Even Slightly High Blood Pressure Ups Vascular Disease Risks
- 05/14 13:51 Japan Nursing Care Insurance Premiums to Rise 3.5 Pct
- 05/14 11:18 IMF Urges Japan to Maintain Flexible Exchange Rate Regime
- 05/14 10:19 Japan AGC Unit Loses Suit over Indirect Gender Discrimination
- 05/14 09:12 Japan's Fugaku Tops 2 Supercomputer Rankings for 9th Time
- 05/13 21:55 Komeito Leader Urges Kishida to Lead Political Funds Law Revision
- 05/13 21:38 Japan Mulls Legislation against Customer Harassment
- 05/13 20:25 S. Korean Opposition Leader Lands on Japan-Claimed Isles
- 05/13 15:39 Political Group Raided for Alleged Election Disruption in Tokyo
- 05/13 13:47 Japan Panel Calls for Pay Hike for Teachers
- 05/13 13:39 BOJ Cuts JGB Buying for 1st Time since Negative Rate End
- 05/13 12:45 Reservations for Climbing Mount Fuji to Start May 20
- 05/13 09:44 U.S. Senator Again Justifies 1945 Atomic Bombings of Japan
- 05/12 20:17 Japanese Scriptwriter Mieko Osanai Dies at 94
- 05/12 19:30 Opposition Cites Loopholes in Ruling Bloc's Funds Law Revision Plan
- 05/12 14:56 Japan Small Firms Raising Wages amid Labor Shortages: Govt Paper
- 05/12 13:07 "Japan Parade" Held in New York
- 05/11 22:21 Princess Aiko Visits Heian Literature Exhibition
- 05/11 21:00 Kishida Again Vows to Strive for Summit with North Korea
- 05/11 16:29 U.N. Votes to Support Palestine's Request for Membership
- 05/11 15:04 Arrested Man Served Warrant on Murder over Bodies Found in Tochigi
- 05/10 23:23 Japan Team Develops AI Foundation with Fugaku Supercomputer
- 05/10 23:04 Japan's Ruling Bloc Criticized over Funds Law Revision Plan
- 05/10 21:09 Japan to Introduce Variable Expressway Tolling Nationwide
- 05/10 19:23 Imported Wheat Prices in Japan Remain Elevated amid Weak Yen
- 05/10 18:31 Japan's National Debt Hits Record 1,297 T. Yen at End of FY 2023
- 05/10 12:39 Japan Household Spending Down 3.2 Pct in FY 2023
- 05/10 12:04 Japan's Current Account Surplus Hits Record 25 T. Yen in Fiscal 2023
- 05/09 15:46 Japan's Coincident Economy Index Up 2.4 Points in March
- 05/09 12:39 Japan's Real Wages Down 2.5 Pct in March
