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62-696: JNC may refer to: JNC Corporation , formerly Chisso, a Japanese chemical company Japan Nuclear Cycle Development Institute , a constituent of the Japan Atomic Energy Agency Jewish National Council , an institution in Mandatory Palestine Joventut Nacionalista de Catalunya , a political youth organisation in Catalonia Judicial nominating commission ,

124-540: A WHO Collaborating Centre for Studies on the Health Effects of Mercury Compounds. The Institute seeks to improve medical treatment of Minamata disease patients and conducts research on mercury compounds and their impact on organisms as well as potential detoxification mechanisms. In April, 2008 the Institute invented a method for adsorbing gaseous mercury in order to prevent air pollution and enable recycling of

186-421: A mercury catalyst in the production of acetaldehyde . In 1969, patients sued Chisso for compensation. Many lawsuits were filed against Chisso after 1969, and some of them go on even now. Chisso president, later chairman Yutaka Egashira (later maternal grandfather of Masako, Empress of Japan ) used yakuza in order to threaten and silence patients and their supporters. Patients and their supporters started

248-544: A Nature-oriented Ecological Town, Development of The City for Environmental Learning. This target area has three main goals: Since August 1993, in order to promote recyclable household garbage through sorting, the residents of Minamata City have planned (before any other city in Japan) a detailed garbage classification system; garbage was divided into 21 categories in the fiscal year 1999, and has now reached 24 categories. The City has set up 300 garbage collection stations around

310-459: A capacity of 100.000 kilolitres/year capacity. The facility will run for the remainder of 2012 to consider the feasibility of the process. The second goal is to have safe and reliable production in Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. The emphasis in this project is on local food production to reduce food mileage. Local agriculture produces mostly rice, mandarins and local salad onions. After

372-612: A doctor at a Shin Nichitsu's company hospital, officially reported on May 1, 1956 an "epidemic of an unknown disease of the central nervous system", marking the official discovery of Minamata disease. In 1963, doctors at Kumamoto University concluded that the cause of Minamata disease was mercury emitted by Shin Nihon Chisso Hiryo. In 1965, the company changed its name to Chisso Corporation ( チッソ株式会社 , Chisso Kabushiki Kaisha ) . In May 1968, Chisso finally stopped using

434-411: A lifestyle by which they can conserve and improve the environment. The aim of this project is to make the actions as practical as possible, so children can easily implement that in their everyday life. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) established a training program in which participants can learn the lessons of Minamata. At the end of the program, the participants are expected to achieve

496-494: A neurological disorder caused by mercury poisoning. The disease was discovered in 1956. A local chemical plant was blamed for causing the disease by emitting untreated wastewater into Minamata Bay. Lately, Minamata has focused on becoming a model environmental city. In 1999, the city obtained the ISO 14001 certification for Environmental Management. In 2001, Minamata became an official Japanese Eco-town. In 2004 and 2005, Minamata won

558-537: A plant in Kagami , Kumamoto Prefecture , using a nitrogen fixation process - a Japan first. Sales of ammonium sulfate were increasing year-on-year as were market prices. A new plant was opened at the Minamata factory in 1918 where it was able to produce ammonium sulfate for 70 yen per ton and sell it for five and a half times the cost. These massive profits enabled Nichitsu to survive the subsequent drop in prices after

620-678: A policy to amend relations between victims of the Minamata Disease and the other citizens and to give an end to prevailing social divisions. On 1 April 1992 the first Memorial Service for the Victims of Minamata Disease was organized and has taken place annually ever since. Moreover, the Minamata Disease Municipal Museum was founded in January 1993 in order to collect, preserve and pass on information about

682-520: A result of this contamination, 2,265 individuals in the area were afflicted with what is now known as Minamata disease . 1,784 of those victims died as a result of the poisoning and/or the disease. Those who were afflicted with the disease developed skeletomuscular deformities and lost the ability to perform motor functions such as walking. Many also lost significant amounts of vision, as well as hearing and speech capabilities. Severe cases presented with insanity, paralysis, coma and then death within weeks of

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744-752: A result, in December 1997, 16 women's groups, which have great interest in waste reduction, met together and organized the "Women's Liaison Conference on Waste Garbage" with the slogan of "Let's reduce the increasing garbage from each household!" They actively encourage residents not to bring home items that are not absolutely required which may result in waste, to repair broken items and to buy recycled products when possible. Major activities of "Women's Liaison Meeting for Reducing Waste" are: The municipal office of Minamata City obtained ISO 14001, international standard for environmental management, in February 1999. Under

806-532: A selection body for judges in some U.S. states JnC, a South Korean boy group including Jang Su-won Topics referred to by the same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title JNC . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=JNC&oldid=1110213600 " Category : Disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description

868-564: A system for certifying craftsmen who attach much importance to the environment in their production activities. This is called the Environment Master System, and commenced in fiscal 1998, before any other city in Japan. This is to improve the status and consciousness of craftsman and promote the creation of safe and sound commodities in consideration of environment and health, reflecting their experience with Minamata disease. In

930-578: A version of ISO, for various service businesses for citizens, such as an office, home, preschool and hotel. The city has the authority to do the assessment, the certification and the promotion of the ISOs. All of the 16 elementary and junior high schools in the city work on the school version of ISO to achieve the following goals: At the first school that implemented the school version of environmental ISO, teachers and students made an action plan. Every two weeks, they reflect on their conduct, in order to achieve

992-500: Is a city located in Kumamoto Prefecture , Japan . It is on the west coast of Kyūshū and faces Amakusa islands. Minamata was established as a village in 1889, re-designated as a town in 1912 and grew into a city in 1949. As of March 2017, the city has an estimated population of 25,310 and a population density of 160 persons per km . The total area is 162.88 km . Minamata is known due to Minamata disease ,

1054-469: Is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages JNC Corporation Between 1932 and 1968, Chisso's chemical factory in Minamata released large quantities of industrial wastewater that was contaminated with highly toxic methylmercury . This poisonous water bioaccumulated in local sea life that was then consumed by the immediate population. As

1116-481: Is globally accepted by policymakers and resulted in the UNEP Minamata Convention. The first patient with previously unseen neurological symptoms was reported in Minamata in 1956. In 1959, a researcher from Kumamoto University suspected that an organomercury compound could be the cause. However, paths of transformation of inorganic to organic mercury were unknown or uncertain at that time and so

1178-405: Is producing biomass energy from regional resources. The resources they want to use are citrus fruit, bamboo and food waste , to produce bio-ethanol and E3. But in the environmental report of the city from 2011. It is not stated that biomass energy is used and most of the energy is purchased (48%) or made from oil (44%). In January 2012 a test facility to make Bio-ethanol from bamboo was opened with

1240-558: Is striving to implement new and natural energy measures. Sources of natural energy: wind and solar. Wind and solar energy is mostly used for providing energy for buildings and infrastructure. Sources of new energy: bioethanol from bamboo, citrus fruit extract, thinned wood, and other plants. Bioethanol is mostly used for transportation and shipping. JNC Corp is one such bioethanol plant that was established in early 2012 that will produce 100,000 kiloliters/ year of bioethanol from bamboo. In this target area, Minamata eco-town committed itself to

1302-484: Is to maximize, protect, and integrate the town with the environment. Programs to foster and maintain ecosystems began in 1998. One specific goal is to have forests cover 75% of the city area. Other generalized goals serve to maintain and improve absorption levels of carbon dioxide, and revitalize the sea with abundant marine plant life. Several districts have implemented projects to help create an environmentally symbiotic region: Utilizing New and Natural Energy: Minamata

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1364-547: The Japanese Diet became remembered as the "Pollution Diet," as the Japanese government took action under the pressure of civil society movements provoked by Minamata disease as well as other two major environmental catastrophes - Yokkaichi Asthma and Itai-itai disease. Fourteen new environmental laws were passed in a single session, giving Japan what at the time were the most stringent environmental protection laws in

1426-692: The United Nations Conference on the Human Environment held in Stockholm. The official report presented to the Conference by the Japanese government did not mention the disease at all; this lack of honesty resulted in a second report being put together by Japanese citizens. Minamata disease patients were sent to Stockholm to hand in the citizens' report. Evidence of the misery caused by heavy environmental pollution revealed

1488-705: The Yalu River . In 1927, the fertilizer subsidiary built a huge chemical complex in Hungnam . The hydroelectric power plants supplied electricity for the chemical plant, in the same way as the Ōkuchi power plant had done so for the Minamata chemical factory. Nichitsu invested in Korea more aggressively than any other Japanese company. It and its subsidiaries grew rapidly in Korea, and came to be recognized as an emerging zaibatsu . The difference between Nichitsu's zaibatsu and established zaibatsu like Mitsubishi and Mitsui

1550-468: The "single shareholder" movement by buying one share of Chisso each, which was aimed at accusing the executives of Chisso in its general meeting. A thousand of the single shareholders participating in the movement gathered in front of a hall in Osaka to attend the general meeting called on November 28, 1970, but the company prevented them from entering the hall by asking yakuza to become shareholders and occupy

1612-574: The 50s, exposing effluent to cats by mixing it in with their food. Despite Hosokawa's discoveries and public disclosures in 1959 the company did not release their experimental findings and continued to release effluent. The shack used during the animal experimentation was later obtained by The Supporting Center for Minamata Disease(Soshisha) in 1974 and is on display at the Minamoto Disease Museum in Kumamoto Prefecture . Minamata, Kumamoto Minamata ( 水俣市 , Minamata-shi )

1674-632: The Bath ", depicted the severe deformation of a child in her mother's arms after the child was exposed to the effects of Chisso's contamination of the water supply. In response to Chisso's beating of W. Eugene Smith for dissemination of the photographs, Smith was awarded the Robert Capa Gold Medal in 1974 for "best published photographic reporting from abroad requiring exceptional courage and enterprise". The company's "historical overview" in its current website makes no mention of their role in

1736-486: The City. Each area's assigned recycling volunteers take turn in groups of two or three to assist the residents who bring in garbage for sorting out recyclable materials by themselves. Once a month the residents work together to classify garbage, an activity which revives the community spirit, and creates a place for residents to get together. Profits from the sale of recyclable garbage are distributed to each district according to

1798-495: The Japanese Top Eco-City contest. The city is best known as the former site of an environmental disaster caused by industrial pollution of the bay with mercury . From 1932 to 1968, the chemical company Chisso discharged effluent containing methyl mercury from their plant in Minamata. Methyl mercury contaminated Minamata Bay and accumulated in fish, which were then consumed by the local population. In 1968

1860-437: The Minamata disease scandal local farmers wanted to show that their products were safe, so they changed their way of production by: not using pesticides anymore, use 70% less fertilizer and instead started using a special fertilizer from Chisso. In the 2011 environmental report the local production was stable for the last 10 years and the advice was to promote local production. Fishing was not possible from 1970 till 1997, because

1922-402: The Victims of Minamata Disease and to so demonstrate regret on behalf of the national government. Minamata Eco-Town constitutes a set of environmental goals and initiatives, which seek to turn the town's negative legacy into a positive present and future. The idea dates back to 1992. In that year, the municipal government of Minamata announced "Moyai Naoshi" (meaning "Repairing social bonds") -

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1984-415: The bay was closed with a net to prevent the catching of contaminated fish. During this period fishers were compensated by the local government. When the nets were removed sardine catching started to flourish and there now are full-time and part-time fishers, who combine fishing with other jobs. Finally the last goal for the industry is Development of a Second Eco-Industrial Housing Complex. With this program

2046-425: The city of Minamata. Each district develops their own environmental agreement system by allowing the local residents to establish "lifestyle rules" for their district. The Kagumeishi District Residents' Association (Environment Department) has developed one of the most extensive environmental agreement systems seen below: Creating an Environmentally Symbiotic Region: Part of the goal of Minamata becoming an eco town

2108-517: The city wants to build an industrial park mostly filled with companies that focus on the environment and the park is now filled with companies like: The different companies in the park vary in size and capacity and some companies only process products from Minamata city, while others process products from the region or the country. Part of this park is made possible by subsidies,. Natural environment preservation sector: Goals: District Environmental Agreement System: There are 26 districts within

2170-582: The company also reported total compensation liabilities of over US$ 170 million. Their 2000 accounts also show that the Japanese and Kumamoto prefectural governments waived an enormous US$ 560 million in related liabilities. Their FY2004 and FY2005 reports refer to Minamata disease as " Mad Hatter's Disease ", a term coined from the mercury poisoning experienced by hat-makers of the last few centuries (cf Mad Hatter ). After initial reports of Minamata Disease emerged Chisso secretly conducted animal experiments in

2232-453: The discharge of poisonous effluent was ceased due to discontinuation of acetaldehyde production at the Chisso factory. However, the sea sediment as well as fish remained contaminated and so measures were taken to counteract the effects. In 1975, the bay was fenced by fishing nets. A sludge dredging project was initiated in 1977 and continued until 1990. During the project, 784,000m of sludge

2294-566: The disease and related issues. Apart from exhibitions, the Museum offers story-telling sessions by Minamata disease patients. Additional Minamata Disease archives were opened in 2001. In respect of envisaged sustainable development, the municipal government addressed environmental challenges along the social ones; A Declaration of the Construction of Eco-City Model was launched in 1992. Subsequently, waste separation by citizens became one of

2356-481: The downside of Japan's post-war rapid economic development to the global public. In 1978, the National Institute for Minamata Disease was established in Minamata. It consists of four departments: The Department of Basic Medical Science, The Department of Clinical Medicine, The Department of Epidemiology and The Department of International Affairs and Environmental Sciences. In 1986, The Institute became

2418-593: The dreadfulness of environmental pollution and because of this, they can now produce truly safe and harmless products. Before the establishment of the master system, Minamata products were simply products produced with confidence by people who were particularly concerned about the environment. In the future, however, they will be traded as brand products produced by the renowned environmental masters of Minamata City. There are six qualification criteria to become an environmental master: Minamata tries to develop environmentally friendly industries with three goals. The first topic

2480-432: The effluent from Chisso was not identified as the sought source. It took 9 more years until the government officially acknowledged mercury-containing effluent from local acetaldehyde chemical plants to be the cause of Minamata disease. Since then, victims of Minamata disease have been compensated by Chisso and both local and national governments, due to the lawsuits won and official relief programs. The 1970 session of

2542-435: The environment in every part of their processes, including materials selection, production, processing, selling, and disposal of waste. "Products produced by environmental masters" mean safe and sound products certified by the municipal office. For some time in the past, Minamata-made products were not favorably accepted on the market due to the bad image of the city. Nonetheless, people in Minamata have learned through experience

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2604-416: The first year, fiscal 1998, nine craftsmen engaged in the activities of paper making, and the production of tea leaves, bread, tangerine oranges, vegetables, rice or eggs were certified. In fiscal 1999, five craftsmen including a tatami-maker were additionally certified, making the current total of certified environmental masters fourteen. All of them produce products with confidence and pay careful attention to

2666-535: The following: In Minamata itself, there are several environmental learning programs. At the Kumamato Prefecture Environmental Center, visitors can gain knowledge and understanding about environmental problems at facilities. This program focuses on daily life. There is also a program about aquatic environment, a program about pollution in rivers and several programs regarding recycling. According to Japanese census data, this

2728-421: The foundation of the parent company: Korea Hydroelectric Power Company ( 朝鮮水力電気株式会社 , Chōsen Suiryoku Denki Kabushiki Kaisha ) and Korea Nitrogenous Fertilizer Company ( 朝鮮窒素肥料株式会社 , Chōsen Chisso Hiryō Kabushiki Kaisha ) . Noguchi wanted to repeat his success in Ōkuchi and Minamata, but on an even greater scale in Korea. The power company constructed hydroelectric power plants along rivers draining into

2790-540: The four following goals: In 1998, Minamata City set up an original certification system to support producers, which is called the "Environmental Meister Programme". The "Environmental Meister Programme" certification focuses on environment and health, but not on a specific field of production, which is quite unique. This system guarantees that certain products are safe to use. In 2000, Minamata City obtained ISO14001 certification to reduce environmental burdens associated with service businesses for citizens. The city drew up

2852-694: The gold mines in Ōkuchi but had overcapacity. To make use of the surplus power, in 1908, Noguchi founded the Japan Carbide Company ( 日本カーバイド商会 , Nihon Kaabaido Shōkai ) which operated a carbide factory in the coastal town of Minamata , Kumamoto Prefecture , about 30 km northwest of Ōkuchi. In the same year he merged the two companies to form the Japan Nitrogenous Fertilizer Company ( 日本窒素肥料株式会社 , Nihon Chisso Hiryō Kabushiki Kaisha ) - usually referred to as Nichitsu . In 1909, Noguchi purchased

2914-409: The hall. The meeting ended in five minutes with all the bills submitted by the board approved. In addition, Chisso had American photographer and photo-journalist W. Eugene Smith beaten by yakuza goons after Smith published a highly regarded photo-essay showing the caustic injuries and birth defects Chisso had caused the Minamata population. The centerpiece of the work, titled " Tomoko and Mother in

2976-639: The key activities; today, 24 different kinds of waste are separated. A Prize for the Environment was established to promote sustainability across Japan and South-East Asia and a prefectural environmental centre was built in Minamata. Other major events and achievements: Currently, Minamata employs a plan of reducing greenhouse gases by 32% in 2020 and by 50% in 2050 compared to 2005. Four major target areas are designated to achieve these reductions: Activities for Environmentally Friendly Living, Development of Environmentally Friendly Industries, Development of

3038-479: The mass contamination of Minamata and the dreadful aftermath, although a separate section of the website, accessed from the same list as the overview, is devoted to the subject. This section, however, is absent from the English version of the website. Additionally, their 2004 Annual Report reports an equivalent of about US$ 50 million (5.82 billion yen) in "Minamata Disease Compensation Liabilities". From 2000 to 2003,

3100-464: The metal. For an overview of research in 2012, see website list of research Despite the fact that anti-pollution measures and patient-support programmes started in the 1970s, it took four more decades for the Government to fully admit responsibility and apologize on-site; on 1   May 2010 Prime Minister Hatoyama was the first Prime Minister to participate in a yearly-held Memorial Service for

3162-695: The militarism government. In 1950, the New Japan Nitrogenous Fertilizer Company ( 新日本窒素肥料株式会社 , Shin Nihon Chisso Hiryō Kabushiki Kaisha ) , usually referred to as Shin Nichitsu , was founded as a successor of the old company. Other successor companies include Asahi Kasei and Sekisui Chemical . Nichitsu had started production of acetaldehyde using a mercury catalyst at its Minamata plant in May 1932, and Shin Nichitsu continued production after

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3224-415: The onset of symptoms. As of March 2001, over 10,000 individuals had received financial remuneration from Chisso to compensate them for the harm caused by the chemical release. By 2004, Chisso Corporation had paid $ 86 million in compensation, and, in the same year, the company was ordered to clean up its contamination. However, the incident remains controversial for not only the poisoning itself but also for

3286-452: The process was proved a success, the Minamata plant was converted to the process and began mass production. Nichitsu grew steadily, invested its profits in new technology and expanded production into new areas and slowly became a large conglomerate of many different companies. In 1924, Shitagau Noguchi expanded Nichitsu into Korea , a colony of Japan . In 1926, he established two companies in Korea as subsidiaries of Nichitsu, mirroring

3348-582: The return of foreign competition into the Japanese market after the end of World War I in Europe in September 1918. After the war, Noguchi visited Europe and decided Nichitsu should pioneer an alternative synthesis of ammonium sulfate in Japan. In 1924, the Nichitsu plant at Nobeoka began production using the Casale ammonia synthesis which required the use of extremely high temperatures and pressures. Once

3410-769: The rights to the Frank-Caro process , whereby atmospheric nitrogen was combined with calcium carbide (a key product of the young company) to produce calcium cyanamide , a chemical fertilizer . Nitrogenous fertilizers were key to boosting agricultural production in Japan at the time, due to its lack of arable land and the small-scale nature of its farms, so the company found a ready market for its product. Nichitsu also branched out into other products produced from calcium carbide , beginning production of acetic acid , ammonia , explosives and butanol . Production of ammonium sulfate (another chemical fertilizer) started in 1914 at

3472-400: The system, the city intends to redouble efforts for the realization of "an environmental model city" making the most of the lessons from Minamata disease and fulfill the roles local governments should play in the preservation and revival of the global environment. There were multiple effects the city hoped to achieve with the implementation of ISO throughout the city: Minamata City established

3534-554: The tactics that the company used to suppress the negative aftermath. Chisso is a member of the Mizuho keiretsu . In 1906, Shitagau Noguchi , an electrical engineering graduate of Tokyo Imperial University , founded the Sogi Electric Company ( 曾木電気株式会社 , Sogi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha ) which operated a hydroelectric power station in Ōkuchi , Kagoshima Prefecture . The power station supplied electricity for

3596-431: The war. The plant discharged wastewater from its acetaldehyde plant into Minamata Bay via Hyakken Harbour . The wastewater contained many pollutants and poisonous substances including methylmercury, a highly toxic chemical. This chemical was absorbed by fish and shellfish and bioaccumulated up the food chain . People who unknowingly ate the fish over many years suffered from severe mercury poisoning . Hajime Hosokawa ,

3658-735: The weight of each district's recyclable garbage; large districts receive up to 600,000 yen a year and smaller districts about 70,000-80,000 yen. Besides classification, the Recycling Volunteers Committee promotes Taking-Back-Home- Garbage Campaign, Recycling Campaign, and organizes recycling fairs such as flea markets where reusable goods are sold. Because of its effort to classify garbage, Minamata City has successfully reduced its waste output significantly, from 10,000 tons in 1992 to 8,000 tons in 1994. However, it has become necessary to move beyond garbage classification to garbage reduction due to increasing garbage generation. As

3720-588: The world. These new laws included a Water Pollution Act and nationwide regulations of toxic discharges. The polluter pays principle was introduced. A national Environmental Agency, which later developed into the Ministry of Environment, was founded in 1971. National governmental expenditures on environmental issues almost doubled between 1970 and 1975 and tripled on the local government level. Business investments in clean technologies rose dramatically, too. Minamata disease attracted global attention in 1972 during

3782-420: Was dredged and 582,000 m of land was reclaimed. On July 29, 1997, a Minamata Bay Safety Declaration was issued, nets had been removed and the environment was pronounced safe. By 2007, a total of 2,668 people were certified as Minamata disease patients, 639 of whom are alive today. Since Minamata mercury contamination event, the toxic burden of anthropogenic mercury (Hg) pollution for human and ecosystem health

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3844-527: Was that Nichitsu did not have its own bank and insurance company. Hence, Nichitsu relied on government-controlled banks. As Japan lost the Second World War in 1945, Nichitsu and its zaibatsu collapsed and was forced to abandon all properties and interests in Korea. Furthermore, the US -controlled Allied occupation of Japan ordered the dismissal of the company, regarding it as a company that adhered to

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