Toshiyuki Kawakami, head of a group of 45 plaintiffs, holds a banner.

It ordered the government to pay a total ¥71.5 million in damages to 37 victims in the last lawsuit related to the disease, which was first recognized 48 years ago.

It was the first judgment by the top court on government responsibility in preventing the outbreak and spread of the disease, which killed hundreds of people, disabled thousands and produced birth defects in Minamata, Kumamoto Prefecture, and surrounding areas.

The national government determined in 1968 that water laced with methyl mercury from the plant of chemical giant Chisso Corp. was the cause of the disease. Victims ate contaminated fish and shellfish.

Although several compensation lawsuits had been filed over Minamata disease, this was the only one in the courts after a 1995 government-mediated settlement, which did not address the issue of whether the state and prefecture were responsible.

The Japan Times Weekly: Oct. 23, 2004
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