The 6th Japan-ASEAN Medical Seminar on Human Health Impact of Heavy Metals “Minamata Disease” was held as the online Zoom Webinar for the lecture “Minamata Disease – an Epidemiological Perspective” by Professor Takashi Yorifuji, Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University on Tuesday, June 29th, 2021, from 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm Japan Standard Time (JST).

First of all, Professor Masayuki Sakakibara, Project Leader of SRIREP Project, RIHN, gave an opening speech and explained Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (RIHN) and his SRIREP Project to the audience.

Then, Professor Takashi Yorifuji gave the lecturer and presented the following things 1) the cause of Minamata disease, 2) its consequences on human health, 3) diagnostic criteria, 4) effects of exposure to methylmercury in utero, 5) congenital Minamata disease, 6) the currently unsolved problems such as certification problem, supporting of adult congenital Minamata disease patients, and patients with low to moderate exposure of methylmercury.

Professor Takashi Yorifuji answered the questions of the audiences during Q and A section. During the discussion, Professor Takashi Yorifuji answered the questions related to the prevention of Minamata disease, the early symptoms of mercury intoxication and the danger of Minamata disease for the inhabits who reside in ASGM areas.

The number of registrants is 734 persons, and the total number of attendees is 380 persons (excluding the panelists) from various professions and backgrounds including government staffs, researchers, lecturers and students of universities, media related persons, journalists, NGOs, engineers, and medical doctors from the following nations: Indonesia, Myanmar, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Singapore, Cambodia, Vietnam, India, Thailand, Lesotho, Slovakia, Japan, and Ecuador.

The post-seminar questionnaire survey was conducted to the audience regarding the change in their values regarding the danger of mercury after attending the seminar, and their wish to join Mercury-free Society Networks (MFSN), etc.

According to the statistical analysis, the number of attendees who joined the seminar for over 50 min is 248 (65% of the total attendees), the number of attendees who answered the questionnaire is 132, and the number of attendees who would like to join Mercury-free Society Networks (MFSN) is 90.

In this seminar, Mr. Myo Han Htun, Research Associate of SRIREP Project, RIHN acted as a moderator, and dr. Basri, and dr. Win Thiri Kyaw, Ph.D. acted as translators for English to Indonesian and English to Myanmar respectively for the audiences from Indonesia and Myanmar.

The seminar was organized by SRIREP Project, Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (RIHN), Japan and supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS).