Since the mid-1950s, Japan has experienced rapid economic growth. Pollution problems occurred along with this economic development. In this event, we will learn how economic development caused air pollution and how Yokkaichi City made efforts to overcome air pollution and continue economic growth. We will visit the Yokkaichi Pollution and Environment Miraikan and listen to the stories of experts and people involved. After that, we will take a bus tour of Yokkaichi‘s industrial complexes to learn about the history of economic development, air pollution, and how it was overcome.
In Japan in the 1970s, lawsuits called pollution lawsuits were filed. Among them, there are four major pollution lawsuits. (1) Yokkaichi asthma lawsuit (Mie Prefecture), (2) Itai-itai disease lawsuit (Toyama Prefecture), (3) Minamata disease lawsuit (Kumamoto and Kagoshima Prefectures), and (4) Niigata Minamata disease lawsuit (Niigata Prefecture).
In this event, we will visit the Yokkaichi Pollution and Environmental Miraikan, where we will tour a room that recreates an elementary school classroom from that era, and view historical records and materials related to pollution. Experts and city officials will explain about the air pollution case and introduce the efforts of local communities, companies, and governments to solve the problem. The late Prof. Akio Morishima (our NPO director, passed away on May 26, 2024), who was involved in the Yokkaichi pollution lawsuit, spoke last year about the lawsuit and the resolution of the pollution problem. This year, we will hear the voice Prof. Morishima’s talk from the video and talk about this issue.
Date & Time: July 6 (Saturday), 2024. 9:00 a.m. ~ 4:30 p.m.
We will welcome international graduate students in the greater Nagoya area.
Destination: Yokkaichi City, Mie prefecture and the Yokkaichi Industrial Complex
Meeting place & Time: Parking Area, Toyota Auditorium, Nagoya University at 8:45 a.m.
This is a one day bus-tour. The bus leaves the campus at 9:00 a.m. sharp. Please bring your lunch.