Brief background of founding

In consideration of the fact that Minamata disease marked the outset of industrial pollution in Japan, coupled with its complex historical backdrop and social significance, the National Institute for Minamata Disease (NIMD) was founded in the City of Minamata, Kumamoto, in October 1978 with a view to facilitating the advancement of research on Minamata disease, for the purpose of conducting comprehensive medical research in efforts to deliver better medical care for Minamata disease patients.

As NIMD was reorganized in July 1996 in order to enhance its research functions by harnessing its location as the place of origin of Minamata disease, a new section called the Department of International Affairs and Research was established to assume a mission to perform international surveys and research, as well as social science and natural science surveys and research, on Minamata disease and to collect, organize and supply information on Minamata disease sourced in and outside of Japan.

In June 2001, it opened a new facility, the Minamata Disease Archives, as a center for disseminating information on Minamata disease and on mercury.

Furthermore, NIMD was organizationally integrated into the National Environmental Research and Training Institute in July 2003, as a result of which it now has greater functions as a research center than in the past and can exert its capabilities in a more effective fashion in the spheres of international cooperation, training, etc. regarding the environment.

Since the Minamata Convention on Mercury was adopted and signed in October 2013, NIMD engages, both in Japan and abroad, in disseminating outcomes from research on mercury and lessons learned from Minamata disease, and delivering information, including provision of mercury management technologies, in an attempt to facilitate early entry into force of the Convention.

Historical development

• May 1956

  Minamata disease confirmed officially

• May 1965

  Niigata Minamata disease confirmed officially

• September 1968

  Government's consensus opinion announced: Minamata disease was caused by methylmercury compounds in factory wastewater

• July 1971

  Environment Agency established

• May 1973

  Talks about founding a Minamata disease research institute announced by Takeo Miki, then-chief of the Environment Agency

• October 1978

  National Institute for Minamata Disease founded with two departments and one division (Department of Clinical Medicine, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Administration Division)

• April 1979

  Department of Epidemiological Research created

• March 1985

  SPF (Specific Pathogen-Free) Animal Experiment Wing completed

• September 1986

  Designated as World Health Organization (WHO) center for research collaboration on impacts of organic mercury on health

• November

  Medium to Large Animal Experiment Wing completed

• March 1988

  Isotope Experiment Building completed

• April 1996

  Research Resource Bank Building completed

• July

  Reorganized; Department of International Affairs and Research created in NIMD

• July 1997

  International Research Cooperation Building completed

• March 2000

  Wastewater Treatment Building completed

• January 2001

  Ministry of the Environment established

• June

  Minamata Disease Archives opened

• July 2003

  Organizationally integrated into the National Environmental Research and Training Institute

• May 2005

  Collaborative Research Laboratory Building completed

• May 2006

  50th anniversary of official confirmation of Minamata disease

• October 2008

  30th anniversary of founding of the National Institute for Minamata Disease

• April 2011

  Minamata Disease Archives designated as "Historical Document Depository Institution" by the Prime Minister

• April 2013

  "Department of Epidemiological Research" reorganized as "Department of Environment and Epidemiological Research"

• April 2018

  "Department of Environment and Epidemiological Research" reorganized as "Department of Environment and Public Health"

• October

  40th anniversary of founding of the National Institute for Minamata Disease

Logo of the National Institute for Minamata Disease (NIMD)