Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Friday issued the first formal apology by a prime minister for the state's failure to deal properly with Minamata disease, one of the worst pollution-caused maladies and one that erupted during the nation's speedy economic growth of the 1950s.
"The government feels a deep responsibility and offers a frank apology for failing to take appropriate steps for a long period of time or to prevent the spread of Minamata disease," said Koizumi's statement, which was read out by Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe.
The apology comes just ahead of Monday's 50th anniversary of the first recognized report of the disease, caused by environmental mercury poisoning by Chisso Corp.