Overview
- The patients' union, which issued a joint statement Wednesday signed by its chair and vice chair, reaffirmed that a ministry staffer said victims were "better off" than other pollution sufferers and said it will ask Minister Hirotaka Ishihara to withdraw his May 12 denial.
- Minister Ishihara said at a May 12 cabinet press conference that an internal check found no inappropriate remarks, after telling victims in Minamata on May 1 that he would apologize if such words had been said.
- The union says several officers remember the comment and kept memos, though no audio exists, and it describes the exchange as part of an informal mid‑April meeting on Goshoura Island with multiple Environment Ministry staff present.
- A separate paper filed May 3 under the union chair’s name said the group did not recognize such remarks, which the union now calls invalid and says was sent by one officer seeking a quick resolution.
- Minamata disease stems from mercury poisoning in Kumamoto Prefecture, and survivors say dismissive language harms their dignity and could strain future talks over care, recognition, and compensation.