What we Have Learned from the Pollution that Occurred in Japan a Half Century Ago

The development of industry enriches people’s lives, yet on the other hand, it can cause serious disasters if not properly managed. From the early 1900s, Japan experienced several major pollution incidents due to severe environmental disruption by industrial activities. Those incidents have damaged human life and health. It was not until the 1960s that pollution-related diseases were officially designated. In February 2019, about half a century after the designation, we held a public symposium to review the history of pollution incidents that have occurred in our country and to discuss what we think about environmental issues today. In this paper, we introduce the lectures and discussions at the symposium, and reconsider what we have learned from those pollution incidents.