After having our breakfast, we went to the Minamata Memorial Monument followed by the National Minamata Disease Information Centre and then Minamata Disease Musuem. Last but not least Eco Net where we learned how to make soap. Today was a fruitful day as we learned a lot today. We learnt to be more responsible by not trying to pollute the rivers.


Minamata disease is referred to as Chisso-Minamata disease and is a neurological syndrome caused by severe mercury poisoning. We learnt some of symptoms include ataxia, numbness in the hands and feets, general muscle weakness, narrowing of the field of vision and damage to hearing and speech. In extreme cases, insanity, paralysis, coma and even death may be resulted.


Minamata disease broke out in 1956. It was because methymercury was discharged from the chemical factory (Chisso) into the sea. It was diagnosed through a lot of research, including studies on the patients and animal experiment. This has caused 10 lawsuits to be filed related to the Minamata disease. The Japan government took measures such as identifiying the pollution source and to prevent it from spreading if necessary. If river area is polluted then fishing will be prohibited. This had an economic and also health impacts to the people living nearby. Whether the patient of the Minamata disease can be cured depended on the degree of the methyl mercury poisoning.

What was mercury used for in the Minamata Factory of Chisso Corp? It was used as a catalyst for the acetaldehyde production. But now, the mercury level has fallen to a safe level. Around 150 tons of mercury are accumulated. Many fishes were also affected such as Mullet, rockfish, Black Sea Bream and Hairtail.

After that, we went to the Eco Net. It was also very fruitful as it taught us to be more environmental friendly. We also learned how to make oil using oil. It was a tiring but fruitful day.


Andreana