一般社団法人環不知火プランニング＜Preparatory Study for Minamata Field Work＞◎ The following shows the agenda to be learned before taking part in Minamata Field Work.
Would-be participants are recommended to pick up some or all from the list to suit their time
available or learning methods.
For those who wish to prepare in as short as one or two-time course, a recommended plan ispresented.
 All the visual items shown here can be used without restriction.
 The literature cited for reference should be used in compliance with the copy-right regulations.

Ⅰ

Agenda for basic learning※Click the title for details

１． Minamata and the Outbreak of Minamata Disease(01) Where is Minamata（Location and environment）(02) Livelihood in Minamata（Fertile sea, abundant crops, etc.）(03) Foundation of Chisso Corp(then Japan Nitrogen Fertilizer Corp. founded early in 20th century.
Why in Minamata？）(04) Chisso expanded into North Korea during WW II.
(05) Production of acetaldehyde started in Minamata right after the war ended. (Minamata became
the castle town of Chisso as it developed so big as to predominate the town)(06) In 1954 cats went mad and died in the villages by the sea. (What was happening?)(07) In 1956 the first cases of Minamata Disease were officially reported. (Who discovered it
where?）

２．Minamata Disease Sufferers and their Communities※Click the title for details(08) Conditions of the sufferers → footage of acute sufferers(09) Reactions of the people around the sufferers（discrimination and prejudice）(10) How Chisso treated sufferers (the solatium contract and the fishermen’s wrath）(11) Cause detection（the research by Medical Faculty of Kumamoto University）(12) Discovery of the congenital form of Minamata Disease(13) Termination of acetaldehyde production and opening of Chisso Chiba Factory

３．Minamata Today

Reference: Map, Outline History of Minamata Disease”※Click items for details(14) Official Certification and Lawsuits(15) Issues around the certification(16) Chisso Corporation in the aftermath and today (Global petrochemical product manufacturer）(17) Minamata Bay in the aftermath（containment by the net and reclamation）(18) Toward ecology-minded town (named Eco-town and restoration of the communal unity)(19) On-going Minamata Disease(20) How to convey “Mianamata”

一般社団法人環不知火プランニングⅡ

Recommended plan of the short course◎ For those who cannot afford to take all the aforementioned agenda due to time restriction or
curricula, we recommend the following short course:※It is most recommended to provide students with opportunities to think using the literal and visual material cited as
reference.

１.One lesson of approx. 50 min.
※Click items for details(01) Where is Minamata (location and environment）(08) Conditions of the sufferers → footage of acute sufferers(11) Cause detection（the research by Medical Faculty of Kumamoto University）(12) Discovery of the congenital form of Minamata Disease(17) Minamata Bay in the aftermath and today（containment by the net and reclamation）

２.Two lessons of approx. 50 min. each (50min.×2）※Click items for details

・Lesson 1(01) Where is Minamata（Location and environment）(02) Livelihood in Minamata（Fertile sea, abundant crops, etc.）(06) In 1954 cats went mad and died in the villages by the sea. (What was happening?)(07) In 1956 the first cases of Minamata Disease were officially reported. (Who discovered themwhere?）(08) Conditions of the sufferers → footage of acute sufferers
・Lesson 2(09) Reactions of the people around the sufferers（discrimination and prejudice）(11) Cause detection（the research by Medical Faculty of Kumamoto University）(12) Discovery of the congenital form of Minamata Disease(17) Minamata Bay in the aftermath and today（containment by the net and reclamation）(18) Toward ecology-minded town (named Eco-town and restoration of the communal unity)

一般社団法人環不知火プランニング

１． Minamata and the Outbreak of Minamata Disease(01) What kind of environment is Minamata embraced with?
・ Locate Minamata on the map. It is in the southernmost of Kumamoto Prefecture facing the
Shiranui Sea and neighboring in the south Izumi of Kagoshima Prefecture. It has a populationof 27,598 as of 2010. What is the Shiranui Sea like? Calm inland sea surrounded by Amakusa
Archipelago.
→Imagine how people here lived.
Map： Kumamoto Prefecture

Photos：Left：The Shiranui Sea at Tanoura

Right：Sunset over the Shiranui Sea

一般社団法人環不知火プランニング(02) How did people in Minamata and Ashikita live about 60 years ago?
・ The calm Shiranui Sea provided abundant fish and other seafood. The fishermen in Minamata
and Ashikita, the neighboring district, lived on fishing baby sardines, cutlass fish, shrimps,
octopuses, etc. They trawl-fished on a sail boat called Utase, which is operated even now in
Ashikita. The dining table was full of various kinds of fresh seafood. Especially those living near
the sea ate much more seafood than we eat today. Those living in the hilly areas produced
various farm products. Most lived self sufficient lives on what they harvested.
Photo：The traditional Utase trawling（Experimental boarding is offered.）

Photo：Terrace paddy fields in Kukino Village, Minamata City
Headwaters.

The water comes from Samukawa

一般社団法人環不知火プランニング(03) A factory of Chisso Corporation (then Nippon Chisso Hiryo K.K) was established.
・The factory was built in the center of Minamata in 1908 invited by Minamata Village to make use of
the surplus electricity generated by the Sogi Hydroelectric Plant on the Sendai River, that goes
through Isa City, Kagoshima Prefecture. This marked the beginning of Chisso Corporation today.
Mr. Shitagau Noguchi, the founder, started production of nitrogen fertilizer using carbide. He
founded many other factories in Kyushu early in 20th century.
Photo：The remains of Sogi Hydroelectric Plant in Isa City, Kagoshima Prefecture一般社団法人環不知火プランニング(04) Expansion into Korea during WW II
・Nippon Chisso Hiryo K.K. expanded into Korea in 1927 and developed a huge chemical industry
complex including the world largest fertilizer factory in Hungnam, North Korea today. It was thetime when demand for nitrogen fertilizer steeped. Why did they expand into Korea?

Photo：Hungnam Factory in North Korea : source “Business Overview of Nippon Chisso Fertilizer”

一般社団法人環不知火プランニング(05) After the war, full operation for acetaldehyde production started in Minamata
・ Chisso lost all their assets abroad as Japan was defeated in 1945, however, they rapidly revived
through production of fertilizer and vinyl for agriculture to become domineering industry andMinamata also grew owing to the factory like a town developed around a feudal castle. Their
workers were called “factory goers” in respect and envy or “factory beggars” in despise.
Minamata’s population grew to 50,461 in 1956, the ever largest, when the production amount of
the acetaldehyde hit the highest. They started the production of acetaldehyde in 1932 and rapidly
increased their production in mid 1950s as the rapid economic growth of the nation induced thechemical industry to grow. In consequence they discharged wastewater containing methyl
mercury into Minamata Bay.
Photo：Minamata Factory of Chisso of the day一般社団法人環不知火プランニング(06) Cats in the villages by the sea started to go mad and die in 1954
・Kumamoto Nichinichi, a local newspaper, reported in 1954 that almost all the cats in Modo Village
got mad and died. The report came out as villagers had asked the local authority to take measuresagainst the rapid increase of the rats and mice in the absence of cats. We now know that it was anomen of Minamata Disease but nobody could tell then. It was also reported that strange things
were happening to fish and birds around the sea near Minamata.
Article in a newspaper：Kumamoto Nichinichi Newspaper in 1954

All the cats have died of
epilepsy, Modo Village,
Minamata
Screaming at the rampant rats
and mice!
Mr. Ishimoto of Modo Fishermen’s
Association

aged

27,

pleadedPublic Health Dept. of Minamata City
to kill the rapidly increasing rats andmice.

He says that in Modo, avillage of 120 households, cats
started to go mad and die in early
June and all of the 100 some cats
have died. Consequently rats andmice are having their days damaging
the fishermen’s village.

The catsbrought from other villages have also
died. There are no paddy fields sopesticide cannot have killed the cats.
The villages are just perplexed andfrightened with this weird incident.
Public Health Dept. is to take somemeasures against the rats and mice.

一般社団法人環不知火プランニング(07) The first cases were reported in 1956（Where and by whom?）・ On the 1st May 1956 the discovery of an unknown disease was reported to the Public Health Centerof Minamata by Dr. Hosokawa, Director, and Dr. Noda of Chisso’s Hospital. This is so-called theofficial discovery of Minamata Disease. The sufferers were two sisters aged two and five. Theirresearches discovered by the end of the same year 54 sufferers, 17 of whom had already died.
Later they found that the disease had been seen as early as three years before. Why was it
discovered in the Chisso’s hospital? How people reacted to the discovery of this unknown
disease?
Photo：Tsubodan (Tsubotani）

A calm inlet with almost no change from the days（Oct. 2010）

一般社団法人環不知火プランニング

２． Minamata Disease sufferers and their communities(08) Conditions of the sufferers through visual material, conditions of acute sufferers
・The sufferers were isolated as the disease was suspected to be contagious. The suspicion was
cleared very soon as there had no actual transmittance of the disease while sufferers got worseand some died. Those showing hard convulsions were acute sufferers. Methyl mercury
damaged the cerebral nerves causing damage in senses and physical movement.
Source：”Illustrated Minamata Disease; A pictorial record of material exhibited at Minamata
Disease Museum” edited by Soshisha of Foundation Minamata Disease Center

Gradational Relation between the Amount of Methyl Mercury and Symptoms

Acute type (paralysis, convulsion,
unconsciousness) ,Sterility

death

Sensory

disturbance,

narrowed visual field, ataxia,
Typical cases
Amount of Methyl Mercury

hearing disorder, disturbance(Subacute, chronic
progressive cases)
Still

of

speech(Hunter-Russel

syndrome)birth,

Miscarriage
Incomplete type
Atypical or mild cases

Congenital form
Non-specific cases (hepatopathy, hypertension, etc.,that can be seen in other diseases)

Latent, inapparent

intoxication

The symptoms of the methyl mercury poisoning that appeared in some workers of an
agrochemical manufacturing factory in the UK are known as Hunter Russel Syndrome. It
includes physical ataxia (difficulty in writing, walking, etc.), sensory impairment (numbness at
the limbs), disorders in hearing and articulation, afferent narrowed vision field, and trembles.
This precedent eventually led researchers to the causal substance of Minamata Disease.
However, some medical doctors were misled to believe that those lacking in any of the symptoms
could not be Minamata Disease cases. Minamata Disease’s symptoms vary widely and acute,incomplete and mild cases exceed typical cases. The health and physical strength in general of
the residents along the seaside was proved much poorer than that of people in other areas,
which indicates expansion of the disease.

一般社団法人環不知火プランニング(09) Attitude of the people around the sufferers (discrimination and prejudice)・ Although it was confirmed that the disease was not communicable, discrimination and prejudiceagainst the sufferers grew worse. Neighbors would not talk to the sufferers any longer, stones were
hurled at sufferers, sellers at shops would not take money direct from sufferers but had it placed on a
tray saying “Put your money here. I don’t want to get your disease”, etc. Few dared to openly
blame Chisso as it was de-facto the lord of Minamata. As fish came to be suspected to cause thedisease, people refrained from eating fish. Fishermen tried to conceal sufferers in their village infear that their fish would not sell due to bad reputation. Thus the fishermen and their families fell
poorer and poorer.
Source：”Illustrated Minamata Disease, a pictorial record of material exhibited at Minamata Disease
Museum” edited by Soshisha of Foundation Minamata Disease Center

The below shows the abuse hurled at sufferers

When first discovered, the sufferers were called names and abhorred as
sufferers of a bizarre or infectious disease. Sufferers were abhorred byeven their own siblings or relatives. The compensation money awarded
after their lengthy painful fights brought them more pains with slanders andenvies. Some were accused as fake sufferers. Seeing the reports about
acute sufferers in the mass media, people believed all the real sufferers had
such terrible symptoms as convulsion, and died. So they believed those withmild symptoms were fake.

一般社団法人環不知火プランニング(10) Chisso’s response to the sufferers（the solatium contract and the fishermen’s wrath）
・The fishermen started to move against Chisso in spring in 1959. The factory did not accept theiraccusation. It was later disclosed that Chisso had known their wastewater had been the causethrough their experiments on cats but had concealed it. On 30th December 1959 the authority of
Kumamoto Prefecture presented a recommendation mediatory to the negotiations between
Chisso and the sufferers. It is so called Solatium Agreement including some clauses
disadvantageous to the sufferers. The fishermen refused it as the solatium was too small.
However, some could not help but accept the offer just to survive through their plights. What isthe problem of the agreement?
Source：Solatium Agreement (30 Dec. 1959) from ”Illustrated Minamata Disease”, a pictorialrecord of material exhibited at Minamata Disease Museum edited by Soshisha of Foundation
Minamata Disease Center

Deceitful Solatium- 1959 -Chisso, knowing that their waste had caused Minamata
Disease, offered disgracefully low amount of money not ascompensation for their wrongdoing but as a token of
sympathy to the destitute. They even made the sufferers
promise not to claim for further compensation even when
Chisso’s fault was officially proved.
With all the industries, the chemical sector, the central
government, mass media, and labourers supporting Chisso
and so isolated, sufferers had no choice but accept thishumiliating agreement obediently.
Later this agreement was declared invalid by the court for
the reason that it was against the public order and standardsof decency.

一般社団法人環不知火プランニング(11) Identifying the cause （Researches by Medical Faculty of Kumamoto University）
・As early as in 1956, the year following the discovery of the disease, it was known that fish from
Minamata bay had something to do with the disease through the experiments on cats by Minamata
Public Health Center. However, the finding was not taken into consideration. At the same time,
Medical Faculty of Kumamoto University continued their experiments to identify the causing
substance but could not tell which substance in the wastewater actually caused the disease. Whenthey found that the symptoms of the methyl mercury steam poisoning that had happened at anagro-chemical factory in UK in 1940 were the same as those of Minamata Disease, they madesignificant advancement. The research group announced in 1959 their theory that the disease wascaused by organic mercury. They contended that methyl mercury in the sea had entered thesufferers’ brain through fish and affected their nerves system. However, the government would not
believe it and the wastewater was not stopped. To make the matter worse, other theories wereraised by professors in Tokyo further delaying the causal detection.
Photo：The cat shed for experiments owned by Minamata Disease Museum of Soshisha

一般社団法人環不知火プランニング(12) Discovery of the congenital form of Minamata Disease
・There was an announcement in 1961 that overturned the long believed theory that the placenta
would block poison to protect the fetus. It was about the born sufferers of Minamata Disease who
were exposed to methyl mercury in their mothers’ wombs. Dr. Masazumi Harada, former professor
at Kumamoto Gakuen University and others identified the congenital sufferers of Minamata
Disease. They were born with various handicaps and some are still fighting against the diseasenow.
* DVDs and CDs for lending are available at Municipal Minamata Disease Museum.
Click to visit its website for borrowing CDs or DVDs. http://www.minamata195651.jp/list.html#4

一般社団法人環不知火プランニング(13) Termination of producing acetaldehyde and foundation of the Chiba factory
・Chisso continued their operation even after they had known that their wastewater included thecausing substance of Minamata Disease. They made up safety of their wastewater by relocating
the outlet or by installing cyclator purifying system . However, the pollution was not least
reduced and production of acetaldehyde was increased. In the meantime, petrochemicalindustry was coming into the center of industry. Chisso built a petrochemical complex in Chihara
City, Chiba Prefecture and finally terminated their acetaldehyde production in 1968, when
Chisso was moving their center from Minamata to Kanto.
Source: ”Illustrated Minamata Disease”, a pictorial record of material exhibited at Minamata
Disease Museum edited by Soshisha of Foundation Minamata Disease Center

How methyl mercury forms
CarbideCaC2Water H2O
Acetylene
C2H2
Bichloride of mercury
Hydrochloric

HgCl2

Mercuric Sulfate HgSO4Water H2O

acid HCL

Methyl mercury

Methyl mercury

Chloroethylene

Acetaldehyde CH3CHO

CH2CHCl
Oxidation

Polymerization
Acetic acid
Polyvinyl chloride-CHCl-CH2=)n

CH3COOH

Octanol

Other derivatives*Acetic ester acetone*Vinyl acetate

Chisso’s Minamata Factory used mercuric sulfate as catalyst in the process of manufacturing
acetaldehyde. In this process some of the mercuric sulfate turned into methyl mercury. The toxicityof the mercury as metal is known.

The mercury in the form of methyl mercury is far more toxic as

it can easily be combined with protein. It is said that the world market share of Chisso’s plasticizer
DOP made from acetaldehyde was around 85%, making it so vitally important for the Japanese
economic growth.

一般社団法人環不知火プランニング

３． Minamata Today(14) Official admission of the pollution and law suits
・The government finally admitted in 1968 that Minamata Disease had been caused by industrial
pollution. It was 12 years after the official discovery of the disease. It was around the time
when so called the four largest pollution related diseases namely Minamata Disease, Yokkaichi
Asthma, Itai-itai Disease or cadmium poisoning and Niigata Minamata Disease were rampant. In
1969 112 sufferers filed a lawsuit against Chisso. Kumamoto District Court handed down theverdict in 1973 admitting almost all the sufferers’ claim. It was followed by the second suit, thethird suit, Kansai suit, and more.
Source: ”Illustrated Minamata Disease” A pictorial record of material exhibited at Minamata Diseaseedited by Soshisha of Foundation Minamata Disease Center

Verdict on Minamata Disease Trial -1973 We must say that any chemical factories that discharge their industrial effluent out of their factories are
obliged to pay highest attention to investigate with the highest available knowledge and technology into
the existence of any harmful substance in the effluent and its harmful influence on the human body andliving creatures to ensure safety of the effluent. In case it is proved or suspected harmful, they should
immediately take best possible measures including suspension of the manufacturing operation to prevent
hazards, especially any probable threats to the lives and health of the residents in concern. No factories
should ever be allowed to risk the lives and health of the local residents.
Even if the effluent of the defendant factory met the legal restrictions or administrative guidelines andeven if their treatment method excelled that of other factories of the same kind, their deed of discharging
the acetaldehyde effluent is obviously to blame. The defendant cannot be free from the charge of theerror in that discharging the effluent was conducted as a part of the defendant’s business itself.
It is clear that the defendant’s basic attitude of valuing profits more highly than human lives is the realcause of the Minamata Disease.

一般社団法人環不知火プランニング(15) Official Recognition of the disease・ How many people all together have been stricken with Minamata Disease? This is a very basic
question. However, it has never been surveyed. Therefore, we can only estimate the number
based on the number of people who have been certified or those who have been claiming to besufferers. There are many who have refused to be recognized as a sufferer. Typical symptoms ofthe disease are numbness in the limbs, narrowing of the vision, difficulty in speaking, etc. The
government requires more than one typical symptom for the official recognition so not all who claim
can be recognized. Many of the acute sufferers are already dead. There are many whose
conditions get worse as they get older, while not a few have just recently come to be aware of theirdisease.
Source: ”Illustrated Minamata Disease”, a pictorial record of material exhibited at Minamata Diseaseedited by Soshisha of Foundation Minamata Disease Center

Process of Certification and Compensation
Ref.:

Law Concerning Pollution-related
Health Damage Compensation
and Other Measures
Central government

Chisso Co. Ltd.

1.

Diagnosis

2.

Application

3.

Examination

4.

Request for advice

5.

Report6.

Decision (approval

Contract out

or rejection)
7.

Compensation

Prefectural

Certification

government

Council

ApplicantMedical doctor(victim)

Victims can receive compensation only after they have been certified by the administration as a
victim in accordance with the Law Concerning Pollution-related Health Damage Compensation
and Other Measures. Any resident within the designated area having symptoms of Minamata
Disease can submit to the governor his/her application form attached with the medical
certificate. Then the applicant goes through examinations by the prefectural administration,
the report of which goes to the Certification Council composed of medical doctors. The
governor makes decision in accordance with the committee’s advice.
The actual
implementation of this process is highly problematic both in terms of legal compliance and forvictims’ real situations.

一般社団法人環不知火プランニング(16) Chisso in the aftermath (to a global chemical manufacturer）
・Ever since its conversion into petrochemical industry, Chisso has developed various kinds ofproducts besides fertilizers. Today it boasts around 50% share of the world liquid crystal andrelated material. In addition, it has developed a wide range of new material commonly used in ourdaily life including hyaluronic acid. It was divided into two bodies in 2011, Chisso the
manufacturer and JNC, which executes compensation for the victims of Minamata Disease.

Profile of Chisso Corporation

as of December 2010

■OfficesTokyo Head Office, Osaka Office, Kumamoto Office, Europe Representative Office■Factories○ Goi Factory (Chisso Petrochemical Corporation) located at a corner of Keiyo Kombinat (Petrochemical
Complex) facing Tokyo Bay is the production base of synthetic resin including polypropylene and polyethylene
having the site of 51ha.
○ Yokkaichi Factory （Chisso Petrochemical Corporation and Japan Polypropylene Corporation）○ Moriyama Factory (Chisso Polypro Fiber Co., Ltd.) located along the eastern coast of Lake Biwa is the basefor producing bicomponent fiber from polypropylene and polyethylene manufactured by Goi Factory .
○ Tobata Factory (Kyushu Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.) is in the center of Northern Kyushu Industrial District
and produces fine chemical and electronics materials, fertilizers, etc. of high functionality including LC material,
orientational material for LC, overcoat material to smooth the surface of color filter panels, agents to adjust theeffect of fertilizers, plant nurturing soil, etc.
○ Minamata Head Office/ Minamata Factory is the origin of the Chisso Corporation with the site of 50ha andproduces various LC and electronics material of highest technology as a core factory.

一般社団法人環不知火プランニング(17) Minamata Bay in the aftermath (containment net and reclamation）
・The containment net was set up in 1974 at the mouth of Minamata bay to contain the sea creaturescontaminated by methyl mercury. It was 2350m long and the sea creatures inside the net werecaught and packed in drums. The sludge containing methyl mercury accumulated in the bay as
thick as 4m at the most. Kumamoto Prefecture reclaimed land from a part of the bay in order tobury the sludge and the sea creatures packed in drums. The construction lasted for 13 years
from 1977 and the land is now 40ha amenities called Eco-park with athletic fields, a rose garden,etc. However, the sludge with a high amount of methyl mercury remains underground and so does
the fear for leak of the sludge as the walls are naturally due to deteriorate.
Aerial Photo：Minamata Bay in 1974 and that after reclamation in 2009

一般社団法人環不知火プランニング(18) Toward a model town for environmental conservation
・Minamata Disease was named after the place where it had occurred, which has been causingmuch trouble to the residents of Minamata with discrimination and prejudice. Most hesitate toreveal they are from or live in Minamata. Minamata, with aims to change its negative reputation
to positive one, has been striving to become a model for environmental protection. An example issorting out their kitchen refuse into 23 categories to make reuse of discarded material as muchas possible. On the days designated for releasing refuse, you may see junior-high students
engaged in sorting refuse at their communal garbage stations. Another is the establishment in2001 of an industrial complex called Eco-town accommodating factories engaged in reuse or
recycle businesses. The city has also been consciously trying to restore their communal ties.
The above mentioned Eco-park is a part of their efforts and Moyainaoshi Center is establishedfor exchanges between Minamata Disease sufferers and Minamata citizens.
Photo ：School kids in action for sorting the kitchen refuse

Photo：Students from abroad touring in a factory in Minamata Eco-town

一般社団法人環不知火プランニング(19) Relief measures yet incomplete
・It was widely believed that the relief plans for the Minamata Disease victims were complete when
they accepted the reconciliation plan submitted by the government in 1996. However, some who
had been dissatisfied with this plan filed a lawsuit in Kansai, the verdict of which rejected the claimof the national and the prefectural governments.
This verdict made the government criteria for certification in dispute again. The national
government adopted in 2010 a special act on relief of and compensation for Minamata Disease
and now claims based on this act are being registered. There is no clear answer yet to thequestions what is the righteous solution for Minamata Disease or how it should be solved.

I

Issues left behind

Hidden victims
Never-done overall health survey
How to make harmless the sludge under the landfill
The future of the congenital victims
Would the landfill survive major earthquakes and natural disasters?
How long would the compensation scheme continue?
Is it appropriate to call it Minamata Disease?
What is wellbeing?
Exacerbation of the symptoms as victims age
Has moyainaoshi been in progress?

一般社団法人環不知火プランニング(20) How to convey lessons learned from Minamata Disease
・So far you have learned through brief look-back of Minamata Disease that there have been various
incidents and people with different interests and standpoints. Have you understood what kind ofproblems Minamata Disease has and what remains unsolved? The sufferers live not only in
Minamata but also all over Japan.
You are to visit Minamata. So we would like you to think over the numerous people who havebeen making efforts in various ways to convey the lessons from Minamata Disease. Think of theoral historians for example. What are they thinking or how are they feeling as they talk about theirexperiences?
What should you learn from Minamata Disease? How should you make use of what you havelearned? It is you yourself who can give answers to these questions.
Source: ”Illustrated Minamata Disease” A pictorial record of material exhibited at Minamata Disease edited by
Soshisha of Foundation Minamata Disease Center

How many victims of Minamata Disease in the world?

●

Areas suffering mercury pollution (source: reference
data of National Institute for Minamata Disease)