7/20/2007

After the mercury poisoning disaster in Minamata, Kumamoto between 50’s and 60’s, the region has cleaned up it’s region and building it into an environmentally friendly region. The mercury poisoning devastation costs so many lives and those who were poisoned suffered from horrible effects, which coined the term the Minamata Disease.

Today however, Minamata accepts its negative past and is currently working on providing a model town for the world by being the most environmentally friendly one. The city is home to 30,000 people, small in comparison to other cities in Japan but that’s because after the mercury disaster people are generally afraid to live there for the fear of succumbing to the Minamata Disease. Baseless fear because the city has cleaned itself up.

Anyway, a choice visit to the place is the Minamata Museum which documents the times and history of the Minamata Disease since the mercury poisoning. You should also visit the Eco city, to see the Eco friendly city, Minamata is building. You can also visit their onsen at Yunotsuru and Yunoko. Picturesque and a minimalist modern city. Something different from the shrouded, bustling city you get in Tokyo, Kyoto and the likes.