TOKYO —

New legislation is set to be enacted to offer financial relief to people suffering from Minamata mercury-poisoning in the 1950s and 1960s by easing current standards of recognition, as the ruling and opposition parties officially agreed Thursday on details of the bill. The new legislation will expand the scope of patients entitled to compensation for the first time since 1995. It could also affect the timing of the next general election because it is one of the three key bills Prime Minister Taro Aso wants to pass during the ongoing Diet session.

About 30,000 people, mainly in Kumamoto and Kagoshima prefectures, are currently seeking relief. The Environment Ministry estimates about 20,000 of them will be eligible for some form of relief. Minamata disease, which was recognized as a disease caused by pollution in September 1968, paralyzes the central nervous system and causes birth defects. The symptoms include numbness, persistent headaches and impaired balance. The disease has killed hundreds of people, disabled thousands and produced birth defects after locals ate contaminated fish and shellfish in the city of Minamata, Kumamoto, in southwestern Japan. Since coming to light in May 1956, it has become one of Japan’s worst cases of pollution-related illness. The three parties also agreed to allow chemical maker Chisso Corp., which released mercury-tainted water into the sea from a synthetic resin factory, to split into two entities. Following the split-up, Chisso’s holding company will be responsible for financially compensating the victims and its subsidiary will take over business operations. In December 1995, the Cabinet of then Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama endorsed a settlement and called on Chisso to provide a lump sum payment of 2.6 million yen each to about 11,000 Minamata disease patients who had not been officially recognized. The government’s decision also prompted the state and municipalities to provide 20,000 yen in monthly medical allowances. In October 2004, the Supreme Court said the state and Kumamoto prefecture should be held responsible for the spread of the disease and recognized damage from the disease beyond the government standards. The top court ruling led to sufferers filing lawsuits to be recognized by the state.

Kyodo

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2 Comments

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  Disillusioned at 02:25 PM JST - 2nd July

  mercury-poisoning in the 1950s and 1960s

  Only 50 years later. Great work! I remember studying this in high school, all so long ago and now, 50 years later, they are gaining recognition and compensation. Classic!

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  stirfry at 03:10 PM JST - 2nd July

  official govt policy is to stall until all plaintiffs are dead, then settle

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