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Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

Asthma patient blames Toyota for emission-caused air pollution

Koyanagi Haruko, 63, a plaintiff of an air pollution lawsuit, was among workers participating in the February 11 "Day of Action" at Toyota Motor Corporation in Toyota City in Aichi Prefecture.

She suffers from asthma attributable to air pollution caused by automobile emissions.

"Toyota must fulfill its corporate social responsibility, accept responsibility for air pollution, and give us back the blue sky!" She shouted at the carmaker's headquarters.

Toyota Motor Corporation is a defendant in the air pollution lawsuit and a major advocate of more expressway construction projects. While making record profits, the car giant has neglected to take appropriate measures for the relief of air pollution victims.

Koyanagi began to have asthma attacks when she was 43. Her only daughter, 5 years old at that time, had developed asthma six months earlier. Several years later, her 69-year-old mother also had severe asthma attacks and choked to death because of a sudden asthma attack at the age of 79. Koyanagi herself can no longer walk without a cane.

She said, "Toyota Motor Co. has much influence in both Japan's economy and politics. I want the company to accept responsibility for the serious health problems it has caused to three generations of my family in order to not create similar victims again."
- Akahata, February 12, 2006