An important date is approaching for people who are not officially recognized as victims of Minamata disease but have symptoms of the disease, Japan's worst industrial pollution-induced disease caused by methyl mercury contained in waste from Chisso Corp.'s factory in Minamata, Kumamoto Prefecture, and Showa Denko K.K.'s factory in Kanose, Niigata Prefecture.
Tuesday (July 31) is the deadline for applying for relief measures under a 2009 special law to help unrecognized victims, which feature a lump-sum payment of ¥2.1 million and a monthly medical allowance of ¥12,900 to ¥17,700.
But the rigid conditions for allowing the application, concerning such factors as locations of residence and date of birth, fail to take into account unrecognized victims' real situation. Also many of those afflicted hesitate to file the application, fearful of prejudice and discrimination against people who suffer from Minamata disease, a neurological disorder.