Japan Press Weekly

Tweet

2018 May 16 - 22 [SOCIAL ISSUES]

Chisso president retracts his abusive remark concerning Minamata disease

The Chisso Corp. president on May 18 held a press conference in Kumamoto’s Minamata City and retracted his remark that the company’s measures of relief for Minamata disease sufferers have been completed.

Chisso President Goto Shunsuke made the controversial remark on May 1 after a ceremony held to mourn those who died from Minamata disease, which was caused by the mercury pollution by Chisso. Goto asserted the completion of relief measures on the grounds that the process of screening applications for compensation payments from disease sufferers under the special law on Minamata disease was finished. Minamata victims criticized Goto’s remark by saying that it is unforgivable for the company to try to evade its responsibility as the convicted polluter.

Concerning the controversial remark, Japanese Communist Party Vice Chair Ichida Tadayoshi and other JCP lawmakers on May 8 met with Environment Minister Nakagawa Masaharu and demanded that the ministry instruct Goto to retract his remark. JCP member of the House of Representatives Tamura Taka’aki on May 15 at a House Environment Committee meeting made the same demand.

Commenting on Goto’s withdrawal of his remark, Tamura said that it is a matter of course for the president to do so. He stated that many Minamata disease victims have yet to receive compensation and that the JCP will make Chisso fulfill its responsibility to pay damages to all the victims.

Past related article:
> Minamata disease patients protest against Chisso president’s abusive remark [May 3, 9 and 10, 2018]