The Open Research Center for Minamata Studies

Intent of the exhibition

Chisso Corporation is the first enterprise in the world that caused wide-ranging human damage through its industrial waste. Shin-Nihon Chisso Labor Union as a Chisso’s labor union released the valuable documents and records to the public in Jan. 2010 at the On-site Research Center for Minamata Studies. In commemoration of this event, exhibitions were simultaneously held in Tokyo, Osaka, Kumamoto, and Minamata.

The fact that the union which belonged to Chisso Corporation supported the patients in the struggles against the company had not been recognized even among the people in Minamata and in the history of the Japanese labor union activities. While companies are likely to reduce the labor force these days, the activities of labor union has received high marks again. The activities of Shin-Nihon Chisso Labor Union are a rare and precious challenge in the fight for human dignity under the harsh circumstances of the pro-business climate of capitalism and curtailment of worker rights after the war. Through the exhibition, the most quality activities, which the Union promoted, were to be introduced and understood well among more people. Some corresponding symposiums were held as well.

Outline of the exhibition