Minamata, Kumamoto

Minamata
水俣市
Minamata City Hall
Minamata City Hall
Flag of Minamata
Official seal of Minamata
Location of Minamata in Kumamoto Prefecture
Location of Minamata in Kumamoto Prefecture
Minamata is located in Japan
Minamata
Minamata
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 32°13′N 130°24′E / 32.217°N 130.400°E / 32.217; 130.400
Country Japan
RegionKyūshū
Prefecture Kumamoto
Government
 • MayorToshiharu Takaoka
Area
 • Total162.88 km2 (62.89 sq mi)
Population
 (October 1, 2020)
 • Total23,580
 • Density144.4/km2 (374/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+09:00 (JST)
Postal code
867-8555
Phone number0966-63-1111
Address1-1-1 Jinnai, Minamata-shi, Kumamoto-ken
ClimateCfa
WebsiteOfficial website
Symbols
FlowerRhododendron
TreeSakura

Minamata (水俣市, Minamata-shi) is a city located in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. It is on the west coast of Kyūshū and faces Amakusa islands. Minamata was established as a village in 1889, re-designated as a town in 1912 and grew into a city in 1949.[1] As of March 2017, the city has an estimated population of 25,310[2] and a population density of 160 persons per km2. The total area is 162.88 km2.

Minamata is known due to Minamata disease, a neurological disorder caused by mercury poisoning. The disease was discovered in 1956.[1] A local chemical plant was blamed for causing the disease by emitting untreated wastewater into Minamata Bay.

Lately, Minamata has focused on becoming a model environmental city. In 1999, the city obtained the ISO 14001 certification for Environmental Management.[1] In 2001, Minamata became an official Japanese Eco-town.[3] In 2004 and 2005, Minamata won the Japanese Top Eco-City contest.[4]

  1. ^ a b c "History of Minamata". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
  2. ^ "Official website of Minamata City" (in Japanese). Japan: Minamata City. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  3. ^ Eco-Towns in Japan - Implications and Lessons for Developing Countries and Cities (PDF). Global Environment Centre Foundation. 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2012-10-11.
  4. ^ "[Ecomap] Minatama City: City-wide Efforts to be a Model Environmental City, Getting Over Minamata Disease". Japan for Sustainability. Archived from the original on 3 October 2013. Retrieved 11 October 2012.

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