Industrial Pollution in Japan (UNU, 1992, 187 pages)

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Foreword

Overview

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I. Environmental pollution: Basic precepts

II. Japan's extensive experience with environmental pollution in historical perspective

III. Contents

Chapter - 1 The Ashio Copper mine pollution case: The origins of environmental destruction

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I. Technological modernization and the Ashio Copper Mine

II. Protests against mining poisons and governmental measures

III. Mine operations in the Post Sino-Japanese War era and the stance of the government

IV. Tanaka's attempt to appeal directly to the emperor and the poisoned water-collection pond plan

V. Shozo Tanaka takes up residence in Yanaka village

VI. The historical implications of the Ashio Copper-mine poisoning incidents

VII. Copper-poisoning issues and their aftermath

VIII. Conclusions: Lessons for today from the Ashio Copper-mine poisonings

Chapter - 2 Japan's Post-Second World War environmental problems

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I. Historical background to Japan's first experience with high-level economic development

II. Environmental characteristics of post-second world war Japan: From visible to invisible pollution

III. Citizen and administrative response to environmental problems

Chapter - 3 The arsenic milk poisoning incident

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I. Baby milk in the structure of the consumer economy

II. Expanding production of powdered milk and the Morinaga Milk Company

III. The arsenic milk poisoning incident and the Morinaga Company's Response

IV. Visit after 14 years - The Maruyama report

V. Expansion of the movement to save the victims

VI. Establishment of the Hikari foundation

Chapter - 4 Minamata disease

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I. The Nippon Chisso Company: Beginnings

II. The beginnings of the carbide organic chemical complex

III. Recovering from the defeat of the Second World War

IV. The discovery of Minamata disease and the difficulty in determining its cause

V. Social trauma and the fishermen's riot

VI. Counteraction and unconcern

VII. Rediscovery of the Minamata disease in Niigata

VIII. Government understandings, renegotiations, and interventions

IX. Taking the Minamata disease case to court and citizen support

X. In search of the Minamata disease

XI. Sit-down strike at Chisso Company Headquarters - Seeking direct negotiations

XII. The third Minamata disease and administrative-level perfidy

XIII. Minamata disease victims' movements and efforts at renewal

XIV. Conclusion

Chapter - 5 The Miike coal-mine explosion

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I. Energy-source conversion and coal-mine labour

II. Modernization of the coal mine and labour conditions

III. The worst of the coal-dust-related mine explosions

IV. The Miike coal-mine explosion of 9 November 1963

V. Increased numbers of gas-poisoning victims due to a lack of education

VI. Almost complete absence of a security policy

VII. Fatal mistakes made in the early stages of treatment

VIII. Carbon monoxide poisoning

IX. Unlimited human rights exploitation

X. Filing of suits for damage compensation

Chapter - 6 Social structures of pollution victims

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I. Toward an understanding of pollution victims

II. The structures of environmental destruction

III. Destruction of life and health: problems of damage recognition and certification

IV. Destruction of life-support structures

V. Personality changes

VI. The battle against oppressive structures

Conclusions

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I. Basic human rights

II. Issues arising out of court struggles

III. The role of science and technology

IV. The mass media

V. The future of Japan

Contributors