Citizens’ Image of Asthma and Their Actions During and After the Yokkaichi Lawsuit
Main Article Content
Abstract
Yokkaichi asthma is one of Japan’s four “big pollution diseases.” It occurred in the early 1960s and was caused by emissions from the petrochemical industry. The disease led to the first litigation concerning air pollution in Japan. From 1967 to 1972, citizens fought against corporations as part of the Yokkaichi lawsuit. This article explores how Yokkaichi asthma occurred, how citizens saw the disease before and during the lawsuit, and what actions they took to react to the problem. By appealing, studying, recording, and measuring, citizens in Yokkaichi made their voices heard and helped scientists testify during the legal proceedings, ultimately promoting Japan’s environmental legislation.
Keywords:
Yokkaichi asthma, Yokkaichi lawsuit, citizen movement, non-specific disease, epidemiology
Article Details
How to Cite
FENG, Danyang.
Citizens’ Image of Asthma and Their Actions During and After the Yokkaichi Lawsuit.
Medical Research Archives, [S.l.], v. 10, n. 8, aug. 2022.
ISSN 2375-1924.
Available at: <https://esmed.org/MRA/mra/article/view/2964>. Date accessed: 17 apr. 2024.
doi: https://doi.org/10.18103/mra.v10i8.2964.
Section
Review Articles
The Medical Research Archives grants authors the right to publish and reproduce the unrevised contribution in whole or in part at any time and in any form for any scholarly non-commercial purpose with the condition that all publications of the contribution include a full citation to the journal as published by the Medical Research Archives.
References
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[2] Yokkaichi Kōgai Archives, no.524 and no. 525.
[3] Yoshida K. The Lesson of Yokkaichi Kōgai and Challenge to 21st Century (Yokkaichi Kōgai: Sono Kyokun to 21seiki heno Kadai). Tokyo: Kashiwa Shobo, 2002.
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[6] The town with asthma is appealing (Zensoku no machi wa Utaeru), Asahi Shimbun, 7 September 1963. The Close Relationship between the Attacks and the Concentration of Sulfur Dioxide (Nōdomaseba Hossa, Aryūsangasu to Missetsuna Kankei), Asahi Shimbun, 29 September 1963.
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[12] Feng DY. Certification, Lawsuits and the Role of Epidemiology in the Yokkaichi Asthma Episode in the 1960s and 1970s: Lessons and Legacy. Social History of Medicine, 2021, 34(1): 118–140.
[13] Feng DY, Hashimoto T. Yokkaichi asthma and building the system of certification of pollution-related patients in the 1960s. Historia Scientiarum, 2012, 21(3):211-227.
[14] The Department of Pollution Measure at Yokkaichi City Government. Certification Points of the Air Pollution-related Patients (Taiki Osen nikankeinoaru Shikkansha no Ninteiyōryō), 1965. Yokkaichi Kōgai Archives, No. 342.
[15] Sawai Y ed. The Trend of Litigation (Soshō no Ugoki). Jurist, 1972, 514: 177-189.
[16] Ohashi S, Oguri T, Kitamura T, et al. The Litigation Activity of Yokkaichi Lawsuit (Yokkaichi Kōgai Soshō niokeru Soshō Katsudō). Jurist, 1972, 514: 102-121.
[17] Complaint of plaintiff. Jurist, 1972, 514: 190-195.
[18] Plaintiff Counsel of the Yokkaichi Lawsuit. Air Pollution and Epidemiology: Yoshida’s Testimony in the Yokkaichi Lawsuit, 1969.
[19] Kashiwagi’s Testimony (Kashiwagi Shōgen), Jurist, 1972, 514: 422-31.
[20] Judgment of the Yokkaichi Lawsuit (Yokkaichi Kōgai Soshō Hanketsubun). Precedent Times (Hanrei Jihō), 1972, 672: 30–111.
[21] Yoshimura I. The role of lawsuit in the movement of eliminating the pollution source (Kōgai Haseigen o nakusu Undō niokeru Saiban no Yakuwari nitsuite). Kōgai Tomare, 1971, 4: 6-7.
[22] Collection of quotations from plaintiff patients in the day of judgment (Yokkaichi Kōgai Soshō Kesshin no Hi: Genkoku Kanja no Gorokushu), Sankei Shimbun, 2 February 1972.
[23] Shiminhei Association against Yokkaichi Pollution. Survey on Sulfur Dioxide by the Detector Paper (Kenchishi niyoru Aryūsangasu no Chōsa), 1 August 1972, archive in Yokkaichi City Library.
[24] Detector paper along the eaves (Nokisakini Kenchishi), Chunichi Shimbun, 14 August 1971.
[25] Yokkaichi City. The History of Yokkaichi Pollution (Yokkaichi Kōgai no Rekishi).
[26] Itsuko Matsuura, Establishing Process of the Law Concerning Pollution-Related Health Damage Compensation (Kōgai Kenkō Higai Hoshōhō no Seiritsu Katei). Jurist, 1984, 822: 80-85.
[27] The field check in Mitsubishi Oil company (Mitsubishi Uka o Tachiiri Chōsa), Chunichi Shimbun, 3 November 1973.
[28] Return fishes to the sea of Isozu (Isozu no Umi ni Sakana o kaese), Chunichi Shimbun, 15 November 1973.
[29] White environmental pollution to the court (Shiroi Kōgai Hotei e), Chunichi Shimbun, 15 May 1973.
[2] Yokkaichi Kōgai Archives, no.524 and no. 525.
[3] Yoshida K. The Lesson of Yokkaichi Kōgai and Challenge to 21st Century (Yokkaichi Kōgai: Sono Kyokun to 21seiki heno Kadai). Tokyo: Kashiwa Shobo, 2002.
[4] Yokkaichi City. The History of Yokkaichi City (Yokkaichi Shishi). Yokkaichi: Yokkaichi City, 1998, vol. 15.
[5] Compilation Committee on Japan’s Experience in the Battle against Air Pollution (Nihon no Taiki Osen Keiken Kentō Iinkai), ed., Japan’s Experience in the Battle against Air Pollution: Working towards Sustainable Development (Nihon no Taiki Osen Keiken: Jizoku Kanō na Kaihatsu heno Chōsen). Tokyo: The Japan Times, 1997.
[6] The town with asthma is appealing (Zensoku no machi wa Utaeru), Asahi Shimbun, 7 September 1963. The Close Relationship between the Attacks and the Concentration of Sulfur Dioxide (Nōdomaseba Hossa, Aryūsangasu to Missetsuna Kankei), Asahi Shimbun, 29 September 1963.
[7] Yoshida K. The environmental pollution problems (Kōgai Mondai), Public Health (Kōshū Eisei). 1964, 11: 18–22.
[8] Air Pollution and Weather in Yokkaichi (Yokkaichi niokeru Taiki Osen to Kishō), Kōgai Archives of the Kōgai Measure Section in Mie Prefecture, no. 17, July 1964, preserved in Yokkaichi City Library.
[9] Research Collection of Institute for Industrial Health (Sangyō Igaku Kenkyujo Gyōsekishū), no. 1.
[10] Kurokawa Investigative Team. Report of the Special Investigation of the Air Pollution in Yokkaichi Area (Yokkaichi Chiku Taiki Osen Tokubetsu Chōsa Hōkokusho). Yokkaichi: Pollution Control Section in Yokkaichi City, 1964.
[11] Department for Antipollution Measures in Mie Prefecture (Mieken Kōgai Taisaku Shitsu). Report of the Epidemiological Investigation Committee of the Special Investigation for Air Pollution in Yokkaichi Area (Yokkaichi Chiku Taiki Osen Tokubetsu Chōsa Ekigaku Chōsa Shōiinkai Hōkoku), March 1964, Yokkaichi Kōgai Archives, no. 351.
[12] Feng DY. Certification, Lawsuits and the Role of Epidemiology in the Yokkaichi Asthma Episode in the 1960s and 1970s: Lessons and Legacy. Social History of Medicine, 2021, 34(1): 118–140.
[13] Feng DY, Hashimoto T. Yokkaichi asthma and building the system of certification of pollution-related patients in the 1960s. Historia Scientiarum, 2012, 21(3):211-227.
[14] The Department of Pollution Measure at Yokkaichi City Government. Certification Points of the Air Pollution-related Patients (Taiki Osen nikankeinoaru Shikkansha no Ninteiyōryō), 1965. Yokkaichi Kōgai Archives, No. 342.
[15] Sawai Y ed. The Trend of Litigation (Soshō no Ugoki). Jurist, 1972, 514: 177-189.
[16] Ohashi S, Oguri T, Kitamura T, et al. The Litigation Activity of Yokkaichi Lawsuit (Yokkaichi Kōgai Soshō niokeru Soshō Katsudō). Jurist, 1972, 514: 102-121.
[17] Complaint of plaintiff. Jurist, 1972, 514: 190-195.
[18] Plaintiff Counsel of the Yokkaichi Lawsuit. Air Pollution and Epidemiology: Yoshida’s Testimony in the Yokkaichi Lawsuit, 1969.
[19] Kashiwagi’s Testimony (Kashiwagi Shōgen), Jurist, 1972, 514: 422-31.
[20] Judgment of the Yokkaichi Lawsuit (Yokkaichi Kōgai Soshō Hanketsubun). Precedent Times (Hanrei Jihō), 1972, 672: 30–111.
[21] Yoshimura I. The role of lawsuit in the movement of eliminating the pollution source (Kōgai Haseigen o nakusu Undō niokeru Saiban no Yakuwari nitsuite). Kōgai Tomare, 1971, 4: 6-7.
[22] Collection of quotations from plaintiff patients in the day of judgment (Yokkaichi Kōgai Soshō Kesshin no Hi: Genkoku Kanja no Gorokushu), Sankei Shimbun, 2 February 1972.
[23] Shiminhei Association against Yokkaichi Pollution. Survey on Sulfur Dioxide by the Detector Paper (Kenchishi niyoru Aryūsangasu no Chōsa), 1 August 1972, archive in Yokkaichi City Library.
[24] Detector paper along the eaves (Nokisakini Kenchishi), Chunichi Shimbun, 14 August 1971.
[25] Yokkaichi City. The History of Yokkaichi Pollution (Yokkaichi Kōgai no Rekishi).
[26] Itsuko Matsuura, Establishing Process of the Law Concerning Pollution-Related Health Damage Compensation (Kōgai Kenkō Higai Hoshōhō no Seiritsu Katei). Jurist, 1984, 822: 80-85.
[27] The field check in Mitsubishi Oil company (Mitsubishi Uka o Tachiiri Chōsa), Chunichi Shimbun, 3 November 1973.
[28] Return fishes to the sea of Isozu (Isozu no Umi ni Sakana o kaese), Chunichi Shimbun, 15 November 1973.
[29] White environmental pollution to the court (Shiroi Kōgai Hotei e), Chunichi Shimbun, 15 May 1973.