Transdisciplinary studies 22:Thinking from Minamata disease

Academic unit or major

Humanities and social science courses

Instructor(s)

Takeshi Nakajima / Kenichiro Isozaki / Asa Ito

Class Format

Lecture (Livestream)

Media-enhanced courses

-

Day of week/Period
(Classrooms)

5-6 Wed

Class

-

Course Code

LAH.T422

Number of credits

100

Course offered

2024

Offered quarter

3Q

Syllabus updated

Mar 14, 2025

Language

Japanese

Syllabus

Course overview and goals

Thinking about Minamata disease leads to the study of fundamental issues such as "technology and ethics," "relationship between nature and humans," and "responsibility and forgiveness." The Minamata Disease Research Group of Kumamoto University, which was established in 1956, suspected that there was a problem with the effluent from the Chisso factory, and announced in July 1959 that it was caused by organic mercury. In response, in November of the same year, Kiyoura Raisaku (Professor, Tokyo Institute of Technology) published a research report denying this, and the Ministry of Health and Welfare followed suit. As a result, the investigation into the cause of Minamata disease was delayed, and the damage was expanded. The existence of fetal Minamata disease was confirmed in 1960.
As Tokyo Institute of Technology, it is important to study Minamata disease. I would like to consider the essence of Minamata disease and think about the ideal way of altruistic technology.　

Course description and aims

To acquire basic knowledge about Minamata disease. Understand the potential and dangers of advances in science and technology.

Keywords

Minamata disease, pollution, science and technology, altruism

Competencies

• Specialist skills
• Intercultural skills
• Communication skills
• Critical thinking skills
• Practical and/or problem-solving skills

Class flow

Classes are held at ZOOM. The first 60 minutes will be a lecture and the second 40 minutes will be a discussion. Professor Isozaki, and Professor Nakajima will give classes for the first time (1st time) and the final time (7th time). Classes by guests will be held from the 2nd to the 6th.

Course schedule/Objectives

Study advice (preparation and review)

To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.

Textbook(s)

None

Reference books, course materials, etc.

Instruct in class

Evaluation methods and criteria

Discussions and comments in class（30％）.　＋Report（70％）

Related courses

• LAH.S203 ： Political Science B
• LAH.H104 ： Literature A
• LAH.H204 ： Literature B
• LAH.H304 ： Literature C
• LAH.H114 ： Human Studies A
• LAH.H216 ： Human Studies B
• LAH.H315 ： Human Studies C
• LAH.S435 ： Essence of Humanities and Social Sciences40:Human Studies

Prerequisites

None

Contact information (e-mail and phone) Notice : Please replace from ”[at]” to ”@”(half-width character).

tnakajima[at]ila.titech.ac.jp