4 days ago
Japan's Niigata governor criticizes incorrect 'hereditary' description of Minamata disease
NIIGATA -- Niigata Gov. Hideyo Hanazumi expressed his displeasure over an incorrect description of Minamata disease mercury poisoning in an online teaching material by a major home tutoring operator, which stated, "The terrifying fact about Minamata disease is that it's hereditary."
Hanazumi called the account in the material published by Trygroup Inc. "a clear mistake and extremely regrettable" during a regular news conference May 28. Although the company has acknowledged the error and taken down the material, the prefectural government plans to address the issue while working with Kumamoto Prefecture, home to the first reported case of the industrial pollution-derived disease and where patients and victims are located.
The teaching material, aimed at junior high school students, described cases in which children developed Minamata disease at birth after being affected through their mother's placenta as "hereditary." On May 14, the Ministry of the Environment pointed out the error to the company, and the material was removed May 22.
Hanazumi called the mistake "a case that must not happen" and stated that he would closely monitor the Environment Ministry's response, including reports on how the error occurred and measures to prevent a recurrence.
Touching on that this year marks the 60th anniversary of the official recognition of Niigata Minamata disease, the governor added, "It is important to convey the facts, history and lessons of Minamata disease. Renewed efforts are necessary."
(Japanese original by Noriaki Kinoshita, Niigata Bureau)
