Minamata as Negative Heritage in Modern Japan: Implications for Fukushima
This paper examines the industrial pollution that led to mercury poisoning around Minamata Bay in Kuma-moto Prefecture, Japan from the 1950s. It is argued that the social and political ‘lessons’ of Minamata constitute a type of ‘negative heritage’ that presents a microcosm of many of the problems as...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Pazifische Studien e.V.
2013-09-01
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| Series: | Pacific Geographies |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.pacific-geographies.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2013/07/PG40_Aoyama_Hudson.pdf |
| _version_ | 1819150242819342336 |
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| author | Aoyama, Mami Hudson, Mark J. |
| author_facet | Aoyama, Mami Hudson, Mark J. |
| author_sort | Aoyama, Mami |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper examines the industrial pollution that led to mercury poisoning around Minamata Bay in Kuma-moto Prefecture, Japan from the 1950s. It is argued that the social and political ‘lessons’ of Minamata constitute a type of ‘negative heritage’ that presents a microcosm of many of the problems associated with modernity in Japan. Similarities between Minamata and the 2011 Fukushima nuclear accident are discussed and some reasons why the negative heritage of Minamata was ignored at Fukushima are briefly considered. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T14:14:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9b7bf995d2cb4e8191de1b7fe3153722 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2196-1468 2199-9104 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T14:14:24Z |
| publishDate | 2013-09-01 |
| publisher | Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Pazifische Studien e.V. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pacific Geographies |
| spelling | doaj.art-9b7bf995d2cb4e8191de1b7fe31537222022-12-21T18:23:09ZengArbeitsgemeinschaft für Pazifische Studien e.V.Pacific Geographies2196-14682199-91042013-09-0122402328Minamata as Negative Heritage in Modern Japan: Implications for FukushimaAoyama, Mami0Hudson, Mark J. 1Nishikyushu UniversityNishikyushu UniversityThis paper examines the industrial pollution that led to mercury poisoning around Minamata Bay in Kuma-moto Prefecture, Japan from the 1950s. It is argued that the social and political ‘lessons’ of Minamata constitute a type of ‘negative heritage’ that presents a microcosm of many of the problems associated with modernity in Japan. Similarities between Minamata and the 2011 Fukushima nuclear accident are discussed and some reasons why the negative heritage of Minamata was ignored at Fukushima are briefly considered.http://www.pacific-geographies.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2013/07/PG40_Aoyama_Hudson.pdfJapanindustrial pollutionFukushima nuclear accidentheritageMinamata disease |
| spellingShingle | Aoyama, Mami Hudson, Mark J. Minamata as Negative Heritage in Modern Japan: Implications for Fukushima Pacific Geographies Japan industrial pollution Fukushima nuclear accident heritage Minamata disease |
| title | Minamata as Negative Heritage in Modern Japan: Implications for Fukushima |
| title_full | Minamata as Negative Heritage in Modern Japan: Implications for Fukushima |
| title_fullStr | Minamata as Negative Heritage in Modern Japan: Implications for Fukushima |
| title_full_unstemmed | Minamata as Negative Heritage in Modern Japan: Implications for Fukushima |
| title_short | Minamata as Negative Heritage in Modern Japan: Implications for Fukushima |
| title_sort | minamata as negative heritage in modern japan implications for fukushima |
| topic | Japan industrial pollution Fukushima nuclear accident heritage Minamata disease |
| url | http://www.pacific-geographies.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2013/07/PG40_Aoyama_Hudson.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT aoyamamami minamataasnegativeheritageinmodernjapanimplicationsforfukushima AT hudsonmarkj minamataasnegativeheritageinmodernjapanimplicationsforfukushima |