Victims Mourned 69 Years after Minamata Disease Recognition
Minamata, Kumamoto Pref., May 1 (Jiji Press)--Hundreds of people prayed for the victims of Minamata disease in a ceremony in southwestern Japan on Thursday, 69 years after the neurological disorder caused by polluted industrial wastewater was officially recognized.
Some 660 people, including patients, bereaved families, Environment Minister Keiichiro Asao and Keizo Yamada, president of Chisso Corp., which released the wastewater, attended the ceremony in Minamata, a city in Kumamoto Prefecture.
Minoru Sugimoto, a 58-year-old local resident whose grandparents and parents were recognized as patients, said in a speech that they did not hate people or look sad even when they were discriminated against after developing symptoms.
"The whole family must have overcome the suffering and sorrow together," he said, voicing hope that his grandchildren will remember happy memories about the sea when they grow up.
"We once again apologize for not being able to prevent the spread of Minamata disease," Asao said in the ceremony. "We should not repeat the disastrous pollution like Minamata disease again."
(2025/05/01-19:08)
To read a full story, please click here to find out how to subscribe.
NATIONAL
-
05/03 21:24 Ishiba Prioritizes Emergency Responses, SDF in Constitution Reform - 05/03 20:17 Organizers Broadly Agree to Preserve Part of Osaka Expo Ring
- 05/03 19:36 Princess Aiko Delivers 1st Address in Official Duty
-
05/03 18:44 Japan Parties Apart on Social Media Regulations over Elections - 05/03 17:23 U.S. Imposes Additional 25 Pct Tariffs on Auto Parts
- 05/03 16:28 Japan 66th in Freedom of Press Rankings, Lowest among G-7
- 05/03 13:50 U.S. Aims to Focus on Reciprocal Tariffs in Talks with Japan
- 05/03 13:33 Control Device Found Broken in April Chopper Crash in Japan
- 05/03 11:45 Supreme Court Chief Vows to Handle Retrial Request Cases Speedily
- 05/03 11:00 80 Years On, 105-Yr-Old Ex-Soldier Recalls Hell of Imphal
- 05/03 09:30 Trump Visit to Osaka Expo Seen Depending on Tariff Talks
- 05/03 09:00 Diet Debate on Constitution Active under Minority Govt
- 05/02 18:48 Japanese Prisons Preparing for Imprisonment Penalty Reform
- 05/02 17:47 Japan Expressway Operator Not to Collect Tolls over Glitch
- 05/02 17:30 Japan Emperor Meets with Heads of San Marino
- 05/02 15:44 Japan FY 2024 Job Availability Down for 2nd Straight Year
- 05/02 14:46 (Update) Japan, U.S. Hold 2nd Round of Tariff Talks, Eyeing June Deal
- 05/02 14:10 Truck Driver Confirmed Dead 3 Months after Saitama Road Collapse
- 05/02 13:25 3.6 M. Yen in Funds for Japan Emperor Family Stolen by Employee
- 05/02 10:30 Osaka Expo Highlights Uniqueness of Kansai Region
- 05/02 10:25 Japan, U.S. Hold 2nd Round of Tariff Talks
- 05/01 21:42 (Update) BOJ's Ueda Warns of Slowing Inflation in Japan
- 05/01 21:12 Man Arrested in Osaka after Hitting 7 Kids with Car
- 05/01 19:08 Victims Mourned 69 Years after Minamata Disease Recognition
- 05/01 16:52 Japan, EU to Strengthen Economic Security Cooperation
- 05/01 16:52 Underlying Inflation to Slow for Now: BOJ's Ueda
- 05/01 16:21 India Pavilion Opens at Osaka Expo
- 05/01 15:21 EV Charging Format to Be Discussed in Japan-U.S. Tariff Talks
- 05/01 14:19 Remains of Ainu People in Britain Returned to Japan
- 05/01 13:51 Families Ask for U.S. Cooperation over N. Korea's Abduction
- 05/01 13:39 (Update) BOJ Keeps Policy Intact, Cuts Inflation Forecasts
- 05/01 13:13 Inside of Sewage Pipe at Saitama Cave-In Site Checked after 3 Months
- 05/01 12:40 BOJ Keeps Policy Intact, Cuts FY 2025 GDP Forecast
- 05/01 12:37 Hidankyo Member Calls for Elimination of Nuclear Weapons
- 05/01 09:58 LDP's Onodera Preps Akazawa for U.S. Tariff Talks
- 04/30 21:24 Ishiba Cautious on Consumption Tax Cut
- 04/30 20:25 Ex-Leaders of Japan's Komeito Meet with CPC Official
- 04/30 19:50 Japan FTC Probing NPB over Fuji TV Press Pass
- 04/30 19:47 315 People Gearing Up to Run in Japan Upper House Race
- 04/30 19:29 Former Vietnamese Refugee Thankful for Japan after 45 Years
- 04/30 18:01 "Many" Honda Cars Coming In: Trump
- 04/30 17:34 Only 1.4 Pct of Govt-Stockpiled Rice Reaches Retailers
- 04/30 17:02 Vietnam Pavilion Opens at Osaka Expo
- 04/30 16:54 Suspect in Saitama Girl Killing Claims Dire Circumstances
- 04/30 16:27 Japan NRA Gives Tomari N-Reactor De Facto Pass in Safety Screening
- 04/30 15:19 (Update) CDP Submits Bill for Selective Surnames
- 04/30 14:36 Chinese Official Positive about New Giant Panda Contract with Japan
- 04/30 14:19 Akazawa Leaves for 2nd Round of Tariff Talks with U.S.
- 04/30 14:13 Japan's Industrial Output Falls 1.1 Pct in March
- 04/30 13:36 Govt-Stockpiled Rice Sold 420 Yen Cheaper in 3rd Auction
- 04/30 13:13 CDP Submits Bill for Selective Surnames
- 04/30 12:17 Families of Abductees in N. Korea Meet with U.S. Official
- 04/30 10:33 Kabuki Actor Kikunosuke Assumes Name Onoe Kikugoro VIII
- 04/29 22:07 (Update) Ishiba, Marcos Agree to Start Intelligence Sharing Talks
- 04/29 20:59 Ishiba, Marcos Agree to Start Intelligence Sharing Talks
- 04/29 20:34 U.S. Forces, Okinawa Officials to Meet in May
- 04/29 19:54 (Update 2) LDP's Moriyama Urges China to Remove Import Restrictions
- 04/29 16:21 (Update) LDP's Moriyama Urges China to Remove Import Restrictions
- 04/29 13:33 LDP's Moriyama Seeks Concrete Results on Japan-China Issues
- 04/29 11:07 Iwaya, Guterres Reaffirm Need for U.N. Security Council Reform
- 04/29 09:58 Japan's Iwaya Calls for Collaboration for Nuke Nonproliferation
- 04/29 09:37 Japan Recognizes 3,990 People in Spring Honors
- 04/29 09:00 Items of A-Bomb Victim Who Died on Day of Enlistment to Be Displayed
- 04/28 20:11 Saigo Becomes 5th Japanese Woman to Win Major Golf Title
- 04/28 20:03 Retail Rice Price Hits Fresh Record High in Japan
- 04/28 19:46 Japan Defense Chief, U.S. Envoy Vow to Boost Alliance
- 04/28 19:14 Osaka Expo Ring May Be Partially Preserved
- 04/28 17:49 Okagi Hayashi, Japan's Oldest Person, Dies at 115
- 04/28 17:44 Global Military Spending Up 9 Pct in 2024; Japan Up 21 Pct
- 04/28 16:21 2 Japanese Place 1st in Int'l Youth Ballet Competition
- 04/28 15:51 Spring Japan Medal Recipients Include Rakugoka Ryutei Ichiba
- 04/28 15:36 Nostalgic Games, Toys Spark Renewed Interest in Japan
- 04/28 14:24 Japan's Liberty Island Euthanized after Injury in Race
- 04/28 13:45 80 Years On, Japan Govt Seeking Testimonies from All Hibakusha
- 04/28 13:42 Japan, Vietnam Agree to Boost Security Cooperation
- 04/28 13:11 Nobel Laureates Urge Trump, Putin to Meet on Nuke Disarmament
- 04/28 13:07 Ellie Omiya, Versatile Cultural Figure, Dies at 49
- 04/28 11:49 (Update) Japan Denies Bessent's Reported Remark about Yen
- 04/28 11:07 3 Killed in 2 Multiple-Car Accidents on Tohoku Expressway
- 04/28 10:19 Over 20 Pct of Japan's Water Pipes past Service Life
- 04/28 00:58 Suprapartisan Group of Japanese Lawmakers Visits China
- 04/27 22:40 (Update) Ishiba Starts Tour of Vietnam, Philippines
- 04/27 20:13 Japan Crown Prince Attends Memorial Mass for Pope Francis
- 04/27 19:12 Haneda Terminal Operator Unit Underreports Income by 100 M. Yen
- 04/27 13:39 Ishiba Leaves for Vietnam, Philippines
- 04/27 11:37 BOJ May Lower Economic, Price Forecasts
- 03/24 21:30 Beijing Rejects Tokyo's Protest over Statement on Ishiba's Remark
