Fifty people in Kumamoto and Kagoshima prefectures who have not been officially recognized as victims of Minamata disease filed a 425 million yen compensation suit Monday against the national government, Kumamoto Prefecture and chemical maker Chisso Corp.
The plaintiffs, members of a group formed by people who claim to be suffering from mercury-poisoning, are demanding 8.5 million yen in compensation each.
More of its members will file suits Nov. 14 and thereafter, and the final number of plaintiffs is expected to reach 1,000, the group said.