The Open Research Center for Minamata Studies

Intent of the exhibition

About 6 months after Dr. Masazumi Harada passed away in June, 2011, many voices wondering whether a memorial exhibition for him could be held had been heard. To respond their thoughts, it was decided to be held.

At the venue on the first floor of the On-site Research Center for Minamata Studies in Minamata City, his examination equipment and his white coat in which he used to see patients at the On-site Research Center for Minamata Studies. Some 16mm films, negative photographs, his research notebooks and medical records donated to the Center were displayed. The images how he performed clinical examination and gave lectures were also introduced.

Those materials from Dr. Harada were those that he, as the director of the Center, and Masanori Hanada (secretary general of the Center) had arranged to be donated to the Center. They include some materials at the time of the investigation into the cause of Minamata disease and some materials of the comprehensive research of the Shiranui Sea. They were brought to the Center when he retired from Kumamoto Gakuen University in March, 2010, and they were left as they were. For his memorial exhibition, the Center organized them and led to show his challenges Minamata studies through the steps of his research.

Outline of the exhibition

Period :

Jan. 12, 2013 to Jun. 11, 2013

Venue :

The On-site Research Center for Minamata Studies, Kumamoto Gakuen University

Host :

The Open Research Center for Minamata Studies, Kumamoto Gakuen University

Components :

Part 1 : The encounter with Minamata disease: 17 written documents, exhibit panels and actual goods
Part 2 : Carbon Monoxide Poisoning at the Miike Coal Mine, Kanemi Yusho disease (Kanemi oil PCB poisoning): 5 written documents and exhibit panels
Part 3 : His footprints overseas: 11 written documents and exhibit panels
Part 4 : Establishment of the Open Research Center for Minamata Studies: 12 written documents and actual goods
Part 5 : Dr. Harada’s path traced by images: 7 videos documented in Minamata Studies