Japan Press Weekly

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2013 December 18 - 24 [WELFARE]

Pollution-caused itai-itai disease case settled

Itai-itai disease victims’ organizations signed an agreement toward an overall settlement with Mitsui Mining and Smelting Co. (Mitsui Kinzoku) and its affiliate Kamioka Mining and Smelting Co. on December 17 in Toyama City.

Itai-itai disease, one of Japan’s four major pollution-caused illnesses, was first reported in the 1910s in areas near Jinzu River in Toyama Prefecture. It goes by this name because patients screamed, “Ouch! Ouch! (in Japanese “Itai! Itai!”)” due to severe pains associated with the deterioration of bones which become extremely brittle. Cadmium that Mitsui Kinzoku’s Kamioka factory (currently Kamioka Mining) released from its Kamioka Mines into the river was determined as the cause of the disease. In 1968, the government officially recognized the disease as a pollution-related disease. Since then, 196 people have been certified as cadmium nephropathy patients.

Meanwhile, many residents of cadmium-polluted areas have shown symptoms of chronic kidney disorder due to long-term intake of cadmium. It is estimated that 500-1,000 people are suffering from this disorder.

They have been excluded from compensatory measures. However, the current agreement will enable them to receive a lump sum of 600,000 yen per person from the two companies.

Takagi Yoshinobu, 83, living in Toyama City, attended the ceremony of signing the agreement. He grew up in an area seriously contaminated by cadmium and lost his grandmother and mother from itai-itai disease. He is also suffering from kidney disease. “Our 50-year-long battle has finally produced this outcome. I will play a role in order that the history of this disease is not forgotten,” he said.

Itai-itai disease victims successfully ended their court battle against Mitsui Kinzoku in August 1972.