Photo/Illutration Environment Minister Shintaro Ito, third from left, is briefed on the local Minamata disease situation during a boat ride off Shishijima island in Kagoshima Prefecture on July 11. (Provided by the group of Minamata disease victims in Shishijima)

NAGASHIMA, Kagoshima Prefecture--The environment minister dashed the hopes of uncertified Minamata disease patients by saying the government has no plans to review standards for recognizing sufferers of the mercury poisoning case.

Shintaro Ito met with Minamata disease patients in Kumamoto and Kagoshima prefectures on July 8, 10 and 11 in a trip arranged after his ministry came under fire for cutting short a previous gathering by interrupting patients.

He sat with representatives of eight organizations of Minamata disease patients for a total of approximately 20 hours over the three days.

“This is the first time that an incumbent minister has talked with people involved in the Minamata disease for such a long time,” Ito said.

The previous gathering, which was held in the city of Minamata, Kumamoto Prefecture, on May 1, was limited to 40 minutes.

Each of the eight organizations was given only three minutes to speak. A furor erupted after it emerged that a ministry official turned off the microphone even while patients were still speaking.

On July 11, Ito visited Shishijima island in Kagoshima Prefecture and Goshourajima island in Kumamoto Prefecture to hear first-hand about the situation of patients who live on remote islands.

Ito said his ministry will consider a request for raising a monthly transportation allowance of 1,000 yen ($6.19) for patients visiting a hospital on the mainland.

He also said his ministry plans to cooperate in preserving information materials on the neurological disease caused by industrial wastewater containing mercury that was discharged into Minamata Bay in Kumamoto Prefecture.

Ito listened sincerely to what patients had to say, according to some participants.

But they were left empty-handed on key demands, such as a review of government standards for recognizing Minamata disease patients.

Many people have their applications rejected for recognition as Minamata disease patients even though they have symptoms of mercury poisoning. This is because the government clings to a strict rule that requires a combination of symptoms for certification as a patient.

Ito repeated the government’s position in meetings with the patients’ organizations.

“The current certification standards have not been rejected in a past Supreme Court decision,” he noted.

Some members of the organizations said Ito offered nothing new concerning their key demands.

Yoichi Tani of the Collaboration Center for Minamata Disease Victims, who has supported patients in lawsuits and other areas for more than 50 years, said patients face tough negotiations on major issues, such as a review of the government standards.

“There are so many mountains to cross,” said Tani, 75.

The environment ministry will hold meetings with the patients’ organizations in July and August to discuss issues that require budgetary allocations, such as an expansion of allowances.

While patients also called for increasing medical treatment allowances, they are paid based on a Cabinet decision on the law concerning relief of Minamata disease victims.

“The bar is high because an expansion requires a new Cabinet decision,” a senior ministry official said.

Ito is scheduled to meet with patients of the Niigata Minamata disease, a similar mercury poisoning case, in Niigata on July 17-18.

(This article was compiled from reports by Kenji Imamura, Hisatoshi Tanaka and Maho Fukui.)

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