Minamata disease, officially confirmed in 1956, is an environmental pollution disease caused by the consumption of large amounts of fish and shellfish in which methylmercury from industrial wastewater had accumulated. Although originally discovered in Minamata, Kumamoto Prefecture (from which it takes its name), it was rediscovered in Niigata Prefecture in 1965 and was labeled as Niigata Minamata disease. Victims of Niigata Minamata disease interacted with other pollution disease victims such as Minamata disease and Itai-itai disease, and through court cases, constructed environmental pollution as a social problem that threatens human life and health. However, discrimination and fear of discrimination against victims of the two Minamata diseases have led to missed opportunities for compensation and many are still struggling in court today.

Introduction

Illness as a metaphor sometimes becomes stigma. It drives history and changes society. In the same way, pollution-related disease led to a policy shift from an economy-oriented society to an environment-oriented society. In particular, the impact of Minamata disease is immeasurable in social, economic and political contexts. More than half a century after its outbreak, Minamata disease continues to be a social problem.

In this chapter, we characterize Minamata disease as victims’ movements for human rights and profane discrimination, and discuss how the Minamata disease problem has grown from the “visible damage” to the accusation of “invisible damage.”

What is Minamata disease?

In late March 1956, in Minamata City, Kumamoto Prefecture, a girl at the age of 5 years and 5 months became ill. Her family was engaged in fishing. Until then, she had been completely healthy. In late March, she was unable to use chopsticks well when eating, and was not able to put on her athletic shoes well. By April 13th, her movement had become sloppy and she stumbled easily. On April 21st she visited the Chisso factory's hospital. On April 23rd she was admitted to the hospital and on that same day, her younger sister— years and 11 months old—began to show signs of illness.

Dr. Hosokawa Hajime (1901–1970), director of the Chisso factory hospital, officially reported to the Minamata Public Health Office on May 1, that children in a particular area were becoming ill one after another, and there was an outbreak of an unknown disease of the central nervous system.