Voice of Minamata Cut Off

This is the way the government of Japan faces to the victims of industrial development in the high economic growth period. In the hearing from the victims of Minamata disease on May 1st, an official of Ministry of Environment cut the volume of microphone off, during a victim’s husband was speaking about how his wife had died with the disease. The victims strongly opposed to the cold attitude of the ministry. Minister of Environment, Shintaro Ito, who had been at the meeting, apologized. Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida, announced that he would not replace Ito by his mishandling of the meeting. 

The meeting was held for Ito to hear opinions of the victims’ family of Minamata disease on the day which marked sixty-eighth anniversary of official recognition of the disease.

 

In the hearing, the Vice-chair of Minamata Disease Patients’ Union, Shigemitsu Matsuzaki, was speaking about his wife, who died with the disease last spring, with saying “It hurts, it hurts.” During he was telling that story, his microphone was switched off after three minutes passed from the beginning. Each speech was limited within three minutes.

 

After the meeting, the victims’ families protested the procedure of meeting. An official of Ministry of Environment explained that it had been a mishandling. Ito reiterated that he did not recognize the switching-off of microphone. The families argued that Ito, who had been in the room, cannot unrecognize that. They regarded those responses as an evidence of the ministry’s indifference to Minamata disease, in which a number of victims have still been left behind without relief.

 

A week later, Ito visited Minamata city again to apologize to the families. “Deeply reflecting what happened this time, I would promote the policies related to environment,” said Ito. Chairman of the patients’ union referred to the responsibility of Ito not overseeing his staffs sufficiently. Ito promised revision of rules of the meeting for next year or later.

 

Prime Minister Kishida admitted that switching microphone off was inappropriate, but insisted that he would let Ito stay at his position. Kishida’s appeal to the public has been “capability of hearing,” listening to the public voices rather than pushing his opinions to the people. The switching-off harmed reputation of Kishida administration.

 

Agency of Environment, precursor of Ministry of Environment, was established in 1971 to deal with social problems of pollutions including Minamata disease. Agency of Environment Establishment Act determines the duty of the agency as promoting policies for preserving environment for securing the people’s healthy and cultural life by preventing pollution and protecting natural environment. It is questioned that the ministry has forgotten the cause of its existence.

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