Japan Press Weekly

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2011 March 2 - 8 [WELFARE]

Niigata Minamata-disease victims settle with gov’t for overall relief

One hundred seventy-three unrecognized Minamata-disease patients in Niigata Prefecture on March 3 reached a settlement with the government and a defendant company at the Niigata District Court. It was the first reconciliation achieved with the government in unrecognized Minamata-disease patients’ lawsuits.

The methyl mercury emitter, Showa Denko K.K., will pay 2.1 million yen per plaintiff in compensation and 200 million yen to an “unrecognized patients” group. It will also shoulder part of the nursing-care service charges for victims other than the plaintiffs. The central and prefectural governments will issue to the plaintiffs a maximum of 17,700 yen a month for medical expenses.

In addition, the three parties in the settlement agreed that the state will conduct research and development of medical treatments and curative drugs and improve welfare programs for Niigata Minamata-disease victims, and that the chairperson of Showa Denko must express his “responsibility and apology” for having caused the disease in the first place.

“While we are still alive, all plaintiffs feel relieved,” Yamazaki Akimasa, the 69-year-old head of the plaintiff’s group with the average age of 70 years, said with a relieved look on his face.

It has been 46 years since the existence of Niigata Minamata-disease was confirmed. The patients have suffered from tinnitus and numbness in the limbs for more than 30 years. However, blocked by national standards, they had not been recognized as Minamata-disease patients. Yamasaki’s wish, “Government should recognize the unrecognized patients as Minamata-disease victims and should apologize to them. I hope that all victims are compensated,” came true with the settlement.

Lawyer Nakamura Yojiro, a chair of the united front of Niigata Minamata-disease, stated, “As long as potential patients exist, the Minamata-disease issue will never end. A permanent solution is needed.”

Niigata Minamata-disease was caused by the organic mercury in waste water discharged from the Showa Denko Kanose plant into the Agano River in Niigata Prefecture during the late 1950’s and 60’s, killing hundreds of people and permanently disabling thousands.