History of MINAMATA
| 1889 | Apr. | Official designation of Minamata Village upon nationwide adoption of the Village system.(pop. 12 040) |
| 1906 | Jan. | Shitagau Noguchi establishes Sogi Electric Co. (former Chisso Co.) in the Village of Okuchi, Isagun, Kagoshima Pref. |
| 1908 | Aug. | Nippon Carbide Co. Begins manufacturing at Minamata Plan. Sogi Electric supplies electric power |
| Aug. | Sogi Electric and Nippon Carbide merge and form Nippon Nitrogen Fertilizer Co. Ltd.. (hereafter called N. N.) | |
| 1912 | Dec. | Minamata Village is re-designated as Minamata Town |
| 1932 | May | N. N. Minamata begins first stage operations of acetaldehyde compound acetic acid facilities |
| 1941 | Nov. | N. N. Minamata begins first production of vinyl chloride in Japan |
| 1949 | Apr. | City system adopted, becomes Minamata City. (pop. 42 270) |
| 1950 | Jan. | N. N. Minamata becomes Shin Nippon Chisso Fertilizer Co. Ltd. (hereafter called SNC) |
| 1956 | May | Official discovery of Minamata disease: the director of SNC Hospital reports to the Minamata Public Health centre on an influx of patients with similar nervous system damage symptoms |
| 1962 | Apr. | SNC proposes a "stable wage system" to the labor union. "Stabilized Wage Disputes" begin |
| 1963 | Jan. | The Regional Labor Committee mediated between management and labor of SNC and settled the Stabilized Wage Disputes with the conclusion of an agreement |
| Feb. | The Kumamoto University Study Group makes its public official report concerning the causes of Minamata disease: "... causative agents of Minamata disease are methyl mercury compound extracted from shellfish caught in the bay and taken from sludge from the SNC plant. However, the extracted substances are slightly different in structure." | |
| 1965 | Jan. | SNC changes its name to "Chisso Co. Ltd." (hereafter called Chisso) |
| May | Official recognition of Niigata-Minamata disease: in Niigata, Drs. Tadao Tsubaki and Yukiaki Ueki report to the Dept. of Public Health of Niigata Pref. that "patients of mercury poisoning from an unknown source are appearing in scattered areas downstream along the Agano River and coastal regions" | |
| 1968 | May | Chisso Minamata stops production of acetaldehyde by the acetylene method |
| 1968 | Sep. | Official recognition as a pollution: the Japanese government makes an official report concerning Minamata disease, affirming that the cause of Minamata disease is methyl mercury compound produced in the acetaldehyde acid facilities of Chisso Minamata factory |
| 1971 | July | Establishment of Environment Agency |
| 1972 | Dec. | "Meisuien", a social welfare institute for the severely handicapped, opens. 13 congenital Minamata disease patients are admitted |
| 1975 | Sep. | Kumamoto Pref., Minamata City, and Minamata Fisheries Co-op give notice of voluntary catch restrictions in Minamata Bay |
| 1976 | May | Kumamoto Pref. establishes Minamata Disease Diagnosis centre and opens Minamata Bay Pollution Protection Office |
| 1977 | Oct | Sludge Disposal Project begins. Dividing nets are set up to trap contaminated fish |
| 1978 | June | Cabinet reaches consensus on issuance of prefectural bonds to Chisso |
| Oct | Establishment of the National Institute for Minamata Disease | |
| 1983 | June | Sludge Dredging Project in Minamata Bay begins |
| 1987 | Dec. | Sludge Dredging Project in Minamata Bay ends |
| 1988 | Feb. | Supreme Court rejects the appeal of Minamata Disease Criminal Case. The president of Chisso and the director of Chisso Minamata Factory are sentenced guilty |
| 1989 | May | Minamata City is designated one of the areas of the Regional Character Formation Project. Plan include the construction of Minamata Disease Museum and a memorial with "Environmental Model City, Minamata, with Love and Ease" as its theme |
| July | The prefecture announces concrete plans for the active use of the reclaimed land in Minamata Bay, which will be completed by the end of March, 1990, focusing on Development Plans for the Reclaimed Land in Minamata Bay, and its Vicinity | |
| 1990 | Mar. | Completion of Minamata Bay Pollution Protection Project directed by Kumamoto Pref. |
| 1991 | Jan. | The Environment Agency opens a Special Committee for the Minamata Disease Issues in the Central Environment Council, the Environment and the Health Department for the purpose of discussing the special measures for Minamata disease victims and general measures to tackle Minamata disease for uncertified victims |
| June | Special Committee for Environmental Measures in the prefectural assembly sets up the Special Committee for Minamata disease issues | |
| Nov. | Ground-breaking for Minamata Disease Municipal Museum which passes on the history of Minamata disease and its lessons | |
| 1992 | May | Minamata Disease Victims Memorial Service organized by Minamata City is held after 24 years. About 1 000 people including victim's families, patients, and citizens are present and pray for the lives sacrificed by Minamata disease |
| 1993 | Jan. | Minamata Disease Municipal Museum opens |
| Aug. | Kumamoto Prefectural Environmental Education and Intelligence centre opens | |
| 1994 | May | The 3rd Minamata Memorial Victims Memorial Service is held. Mayor Yoshii first apologizes as the mayor of Minamata, saying that " We have not taken enough measures for the victims who have been discriminated against without any reason." |
| Dec. | Minamata-Ashikita Regional Development Funds Foundation is set up | |
| 1995 | Feb. | The coalition ruling party sets up the Council for Measures on Minamata Disease |
| Apr. | The Council for Measures on Minamata Disease presents an interim report on the solution for relief of unaided patients | |
| Apr. | The removal of the dividing nets in the Nananose Sea Area starts | |
| June | Based on the proposal from Fukuoka High Court, Kumamoto Pref. reaches a solution in which cash benefit depends on the injury level of the victim | |
| June | The coalition leading party officially announces a solution for unaided patients | |
| July | During his canvassing at Fukuoka, Prime Minister Murayama expresses his personal regret, stating that part of the blame in terms of the expansion of Minamata disease rests upon the government. It is the first statement of regret by a prime minister | |
| Aug. | Environment Agency presents the final plan for the settlement which is equal benefit to every unaided patient | |
| Sep. | The final plan for the settlement with cash benefit to the victims' organizations and to the patient (2.6 million for each unaided patient) is officially presented | |
| Nov. | Environment Agency presents a rough plan for the financial support of Chisso and for the regional regeneration to Kumamoto Pref. | |
| 1996 | Jan. | The acceptance of the application for the Comprehensive Measures against Minamata Disease, based on the final plan for the settlement, begins |
| Mar. | Minamata High School Drama Club performs their original drama, "Departure - I am proud of Minamata" at the Minamata Cultural Hall | |
| Apr. | An exhibition of photographs recording the true face of the Minamata Disease situation is held in Paris by Jin Akutagawa and Shisei Kuwahara | |
| Apr. | Ground-breaking ceremony of Ashikita-machi Moyai-naoshi centre in Yunoura, Ashikita-machi is held | |
| May | International Environment Forum in Minamata organized by Environment Agency, Kumamoto Pref., and Minamata City is held at the Minamata Cultural Hall, and experts environmental problems discuss the theme, "Creating a city kind to the environment." | |
| May | The 5th Minamata Disease Memorial Service is held with about 1 000 people on the reclaimed land of Minamata Bay, and the director-general of Environment Agency and the president of Chisso participate for the first time | |
| June | Yoshii, Mayor of Minamata states at the local assembly that Minamata City will continue to appeal to the national and prefectural governments for further assistance, and city itself aims for creating a city where people value environment and human cooperation | |
| July | National Institute for Minamata Disease reorganizes its body | |
| July | Association for Minamata's Regeneraion which consists of Juneior Chambers, Women's Association, and other 30 individuals and groups is established | |
| Sep. | Council for Promoting Cherry Trees in Minamata-Ashikita is set up | |
| Sep. | Minamata Exhibition in Tokyo is held at a special place of Shinagawa Station, Tokyo | |
| Oct | Opening ceremony of Minamata Memorial is held | |
| Nov. | The Ground-breaking of Southern Minamata Moyai-naoshi centre.(Orange-kan) |
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| Dec. | The Ground-breaking of Minamata Moyai-naoshi centre.(Moyai-kan) | |
| 1997 | May | Memorial Service Minamata Disease Victims. At the first Memorial Service since the government's solution to Minamata Disease, a prayer was offered to the victims of the disease along with the renewal of an oath for the regeneration and promotion of the region |
| June | Completion of the Moyai-naoshi Centre | |
| July | Start of meetings to discuss the maintenance of data related to Minamata Disease held at the National Institute for Minamata Disease | |
| July | Results of the examination of fish and shellfish showing the level of mercury to be below safety levels for three consecutive years. The Decision to remove the dividing nets in Minamata Bay was unofficially made | |
| July | "Declaration of Safety". Governor of Kumamoto Pref., Fukushima, Declares safe the fish in Minamata Bay. A major turning point in the move towards the regeneration of the Minamata-Ashikita region | |
| Aug. | The Minamata Fisheries Co-op agrees to the total removal of the dividing nets in Minamata Bay at a special general meeting | |
| Aug. | Work begins on the removal of the dividing nets | |
| Oct | The Minamata Fisheries Co-op and Chisso sign the document confirming the completion of the removal of the dividing nets. Self-controlled restrictions on fishing in Minamata Bay are lifted. Fishing in the bay is re-opened for the first time in 24 years | |
| Oct | Monitoring of the fish and shellfish in Minamata Bay (post removal of the division nets) begins. Investigations will be carried out twice a year for the next three years | |
| Nov. | "Exhibition of the Products of Minamata". The Minamata Fisheries Co-op participates for the first time. The "Happiness of the Sea" Fair is held and the safety of the fish and shellfish from Minamata Bay is promoted | |
| 1998 | Jan. | The Minamata Moyai-naoshi Centre (Moyai-kan) is completed |
| Jan. | Old Minamata Bridge, built in 1934, is demolished | |
| Feb. | Inauguration of Minamata Moyai-naoshi centre (Moyai-kan) | |
| Mar. | Minamata-Daini Junior High School Selected for the newly-created Special Citizens' Prize at the Minamata Prize for the Environmental Awards | |
| Apr. | PET bottle Sep.aration begins, now 21 recycling categories | |
| Apr. | Sakurano Tea Plantation founded | |
| Apr. | Inauguration of Oral Historians' Lecture Room at Minamata Disease Museum | |
| June | Three-year plan to preserve the terraced rice paddies of Yonotsuru to be enacted the following year | |
| Aug. | Matsubokkuri Product InNov.ation Committee introduces Minamata abalone products | |
| Sep. | Prime Ministers' Award given to Minamata City Fire Brigade and Minamata-Ashikita Regional Administration Union Office for rescue efforts during the land slides of July 1997 | |
| Sep. | Women's Liaison Conference on Household Waste Reduction signs agreement with local supermarkets to remove Styrofoam food trays | |
| Dec. | Nine people certified as Environmental Meisters | |
| Dec. | Minamata-Ashikita Regional Crematorium "Nanaura-so" completed, begins operation in Tsunagi Town | |
| 1999 | Jan. | Minamata Bay Reclaimed Land site is renamed "Ecopark Minamata" |
| Feb. | Minamata City attains International Environmental Standards ISO 14001 | |
| Mar. | Kugino Elementary branch schools in Okawa and Koshikoba close | |
| Apr. | Ecoshop system enacted. Four Environmentally-conscious superMar.kets certified | |
| Apr. | "Main Street" partially complete | |
| May | 54th Prefectural Athletics Festival held in Minamata-Ashikita | |
| June | Inauguration of Minamata Environment Techno Centre | |
| May | Minamata-Daisan Junior High School gym reNov.ated | |
| May | Government Dec.ides on drastic government proposal to cover Chisso's liability with financial assistance from national general accounts and local allocate on tax | |
| June | Information session held, application begins for "Household ISO: Environmentally-friendly Living" | |
| June | Seven Oral Historians from the Oral Historians' Association | |
| July | Minamata and Chisso Minamata Headquarters rescind 1974 Pollution Protection Agreement, Signing a new Environmental Protection Agreement | |
| July | First phase of development on Tsukinoura Plateau "Welfare New Town" complete | |
| July | Kugino Regional Promotion Association awarded the Higo Water Lover's Award | |
| July | JA Ashikuita Patents "Salatama-chan" salad onions | |
| Aug. | Fukuro Elementary School wins the 34th National Children's bicycle Safety completion | |
| Aug. | Inauguration of City's first female firefighter | |
| Sep. | Kumamoto "Future" National Sports Festival Canoe events held in Minamata. Prince and Princess Akishinonomiya attend | |
| Oct. | Minamata poet Mosen Fuchigami made prefectural Figure of Modern Culture | |
| Oct. | Minamata High School Boy's rhythmic Gymnastics team takes first place at Kumamoto "Figure" National Sports Festival, its fourth championship, first in two years | |
| Nov. | 800 citizens attend celebrations of the 50th Anniversary of Minamata City at the Minamata Cultural Hall | |
| Dec. | Grand Sumo Tournament held in Minamata as part of 50th Anniversary celebrations | |
| 2000 | Jan. | Komakien Minamata City Support Centre for Mothers closes |
| Feb. | School version Environmental ISO commences | |
| Mar. | "Reglass Road", made of recycled glass cullet opens in Asahi-machi | |
| Mar. | Municipal Hotel Suitenso closes | |
| Apr. | Plastics added to recycling system, 23 categories | |
| Apr. | Yonotsuru terraced rice paddy flower park opens | |
| Apr. | Watashi ni totte no Minamatabyo ("My Minamata Diease") Minamata shimin wa Minamatabyo ni dou mukiattaka ("How Minamata Citizens faced Minamata Diease") released | |
| May | 8th Coalition of local Governments for Environmental Initiative Conference held in Minamata | |
| May | Mansfield International Environment Conference | |
| July | Fukuro Elementary School second consecutive win at the National Children's Bicycle Safety Competition | |
| Aug. | Construction of new pump station east of Chisso Hyakken drainage pump begins | |
| Aug. | Household appliance recycler Act-B Recycling signs deal with Minamata City | |
| Aug. | CD containing Minamata resident's parody songs goes on sale in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Minamata City | |
| Aug. | Solar-powered clock placed on City Hall facade in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Minamata City | |
| Oct. | Women's Liaison Conference on Household Waste Reduction signs agreement with four local supermarkets to remove styrofoam food trays for 30 items | |
| Nov. | Kumamoto Pref. ends monitoring of mercury levels of Minamata Bay marine life | |
| Nov. | Minamata City awarded the Environment Agency Director-General's Award at the 21st Comfortable Environment Symposium | |
| 2001 | Jan. | Minamata Ecotown Plan becomes 13th nationally and the third in Kyushu |
| Feb. | Appeal rejected by Supreme Court after reversal of the Minamata Disease Delay Reparations lawsuit | |
| Mar. | Minamata 21st Century Citizens' Conference begins | |
| Mar. | Symposium encouraging bicycle use held | |
| Mar. | The first company to join Minamata's Ecotown, Tanaka Shoten, Ltd., and the City jointly agree on "Foundation of Environmentally-Conscious Facilities" | |
| Apr. | Kagawa Pref. junior high school becomes first to participate in Environmental Education program | |
| May | Minami Kyushu Tire Recycle signs contract with Minamata City | |
| May | Minamata taked No. 1 in Kumamoto for public access to information | |
| June | National Minamata Disease Information Centre opens beside Minamata Disease Museum | |
| June | Muta Marshes designated as Prefectural Natural Preservation Area | |
| July | Minamata City Young Citizen's Association founded | |
| Aug. | RBS Inc. signs pledge with Minamata City committing to the "Foundation of Environmentally-Conscious Facilities" | |
| Sep. | Healthy Village Women's Association tests a local goods and services exchange program | |
| Sep. | Japanese inn/hotel and nursery school/kindergarten Envrionmental ISO programs commence | |
| Oct. | Kiraku Mining Inc. signs pledge with Minamata City committing to the "Foundation of Environmentally-Conscious Facilities" | |
| Oct. | Minamata Exhibit | |
| Oct. | 6th International Conference on Mercury as a Global Pollutant: 429 participants from 40 countries | |
| Oct. | Forests of Mt. Daigaku selected for Environment Ministry's "100 Fragrant Mountain Views" | |
| 2002 | Jan. | Minamata "Thank you Taxis" begin running |
| Apr. | Minamata City awarded first place in its population division of the Climate Change Measures category at the first ECOCAP Contest | |
| Apr. | Replatech Inc. joins Minamata Ecotown | |
| May | Environmental ISO for Livestock-breeding program established | |
| May | Grade 5 students from around Kumamoto Prefecture learn about the environment at Minamata's Children's Eco Seminar | |
| July | ECO Minamata Association for Local Goods and Tourism founded | |
| Aug. | Junior United Nations Eco Workshop Kyushu Conference | |
| Oct. | Minamata Ecotown Council founded | |
| Oct. | Jointly-owned Hisatsu Orange Railroad Company established to operate on old line between Yatsushiro and Sendai | |
| Oct. | Collection of separated organic waste begins | |
| 2003 | Jan. | Minamata Disease Museum commemorates its tenth anniversary |
| Jan. | Eco-Minamata International Environmental Model City Planning Committee established | |
| Jan. | Minamata Comprehensive City Plan complete | |
| Feb. | Minamata Eco International Barrier-free Kite Festa | |
| Apr. | Number of recycling categories reduced from 24 to 21 | |
| Apr. | Minamata-Ashikita Regional Administration Union Office Clean Centre complete | |
| Apr. | Kassaikan Community Centre built in eastern Minamata | |
| July | Municipal Amalgamation Symposium: Thinking about the Future of Minamata and Tsunagi | |
| July | Sever damage from heavy rains, causes floods, landslides; 19 victims from the Hougawachi- Fukagawa areas | |
| Aug. | Memorial service held for landslide victims | |
| Aug. | 17th National Milk Packaging Reuse conference | |
| Sept. | Children's Urban Development Committee | |
| Sep. | ISO 14001 changes to self-declaration format | |
| Oct. | Fukuro Elementary School Inaugurated | |
| 2004 | Jan. | Ceremony marking first anniversary of operation of Minakuru Bus |
| Jan. | "Railroad to the Future" exhibit | |
| Feb. | First citizens' Environmental ISO inspection | |
| Feb. | First National Green Tourism Network Conference held in Kumamoto | |
| Mar. | Minamata City Financial Reform Committee submits its outline proposals for financial reform and financial reconstruction plan to mayor | |
| Mar. | Kyushu Bullet Train and Hisatsu Orange Railroad lines begin operation | |
| Mar. | Cabinet Office certifies Minamata as a Special Zone for Recycling and the Environment | |
| May | Yonoko Hot springs celebrates its 80th anniversary | |
| July | City submits request for information and project outline from IWD TOA Group Kumamoto, a company planning on constructing a toxic waste management facility in Nagasaki District | |
| July | Minamata Senior High School Baseball team is top four at 86th National High School Baseball Champion ship Kumamoto Tournament for first time in 38 years | |
| July | National High School UNESCO Youth Seminar | |
| Aug. | Minamata City Industrial Waste Deliberation committee established | |
| Aug. | Modern Noh drama "Shiranui" premiers | |
| Sep. | Minamata City Fire Brigade and Firefighting Headquarters earn the Prime Minister's Award | |
| Oct. | Supreme Court hands down decision in the Kansai Lawsuit: both the national and prefectural governments' liability is affirmed | |
| Oct. | 17th Prefectural Culture Festival held at Yatsushiro and Minamata-Ashikita | |
| Nov. | "Takara" Hougawachi Community Centre complete | |
| 2005 | Feb. | 1st National Ecotown Summit held |
| Feb. | Okawa and Kugino districts become certified While Village Lifestyle Outdoor Museums | |
| Mar. | Unveiling ceremony of the "New Minamata Gate" at Shin Minamata Station | |
| Mar. | Minamata Municipal Yunoko Hospital closes | |
| Mar. | Minamata wins the fourth ECOCAP contest | |
| Mar. | Sawayaka Nursery School closes | |
| Apr. | City's population drops below 30,000 for first time in 63 years | |
| Apr. | City's population drops below 30,000 for first time in 63 years | |
| Apr. | Minamata-Ashikita Regional Firefighting Headquarters Call Centre begins operation | |
| Apr. | Rehabilitation Centre at the Minamata Municipal General Hospital complete | |
| Apr. | Waku Works Minamata, a workshop for mentally handicapped, opens | |
| June | Four city post offices undertake document management project | |
| July | General Meeting of the 50th Anniversary of the Official Recognition of Minamata Disease Project Steering Committee | |
| Aug. | Kumamoto Gakuen University establishes Open Research Centre for Minamata | |
| Oct. | Kugino District Revival Association given the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications Award for Independent Regional Development in Depopulating areas | |
| Nov. | Declaration of Commitment to a Gender-Equal Society | |
| Nov. | Minamata Film Commission established | |
| 2006 | Jan. | 56th Kumanichi Santaro Relay held in Minamata, new record set |
| Jan. | Minakuru Bus begins operation to Okawa and Nakayashiki | |
| Mar. | First Minamata Education Forum | |
| Mar. | White and Blue Song Festival held | |
| Mar. | 1st Minamata Juku held as first event in the 50th Anniversary of the Official Recognition of Minamata Disease project | |
| Mar. | Minamata designated as a "Biomass Town" during the Biomass Nippon General Strategy Promotion Conference | |
| Apr. | Inauguration of Minamata Disease Memorial as part of the 50th Anniversary of the Official Recognition of Minamata Disease project | |
| June | Anti-Industrial waste rally held | |
| Aug. | Minamata Future Concert | |
| Aug. | Minamata-Ushibuka ferry stops service after 70 years | |
| Sep. | Minamata Disease Discussion Group submits its recommendations | |
| Oct. | Congenital Minamata Disease sufferers and other handicapped persons stage original play "Minamata ba ikite" as part of the 50th Anniversary of the Official Recognition of Minamata Disease Project | |
| Oct. | "Hope and Future of Minamata, Fifty Years from Now" held as part of the 50th Anniversary of the Official Recognition of Minamata Disease project | |
| Oct. | Chisso Corp. celebrates 100 years with a memorial concert | |
| Oct. | Kugino District Revival Association wins Special Award at the Higo Water Protection Awards 20th Anniversary Commemorative Meeting | |
| Nov. | Minami Kyushu Pepsi-Cola Ltd. and Minami Kyushu Coca-cola bottling Co. Ltd. sign the "Supply of resources in the event of emergencies" agreement | |
| Nov. | Retrospective Exhibit marks 50th anniversary of the death of Soho Tokutomi | |
| 2007 | Jan. | Minakuru Bus Begins service to Yunoko |
| Jan. | "Mandela Forum" held as part of the 50th Anniversary of the Official Recognition of Minamata Disease project, offers citizens opportunity to discuss Minamata disease from various perspectives | |
| Feb. | Fukuro Elementary and Minamata-Daini Junior High Schools with the Kumamoto School Environmental ISO Competition | |
| Feb. | Tree planting and dedication of time capsule as part of celebrations marking the tenth anniversary of Sister City relations with Devonport, Australia | |
| Mar. | Koshikoba becomes the fourth Whole village Lifestyle Outdoor Museum | |
| Mar. | Signed ceremony held in Devonport to mark tenth anniversary of Sister City relations between Minamata and Devonport | |
| Apr. | Kumamoto Pref. begins Minamata disease damage investigation | |
| Apr. | Citizen's forum on Waste Reduction | |
| Apr. | Minamata through the eyes of seven photographers exhibit | |
| May | Ferry service between Minamata and Hondo suspended | |
| May | Study of distribution of stone walls at site of Minamata Castle | |
| June | Final completion of Ecopark Minamata | |
| Aug. | Minamata Juku kick-off symposium | |
| Sep. | Plan for the Revitalization of a Healthy Minamata, Environmental City accepted by national regional revitalization plan | |
| Oct. | Women's Liaison Conference on Waste reduction begins its My beg Campaign to promote reusable shopping bags | |
| Oct. | Okawa Whole Village Lifestyle Outdoor Museum releases "Wagaya no Manma" Recipe book | |
| Oct. | Minamata native Folklorist Ken-ichi Tanikawa recognized as a national Person of Cultural Merit | |
| Oct. | Minamata High School Music Club wins silver at the 60th All-Japan Chorus Competition | |
| Oct. | Minamata City Fishery Union wins the Higo Water Protection Award | |
| Nov. | Minamata Pledges to become the No.1 book-reading city in Japan, events held throughout the week to promote reading | |
| Nov. | Minamata Environmental "University" Seminar | |
| Nov. | Minamata Disease Museum Oral Historians' Association and Minamata Disease Museum General Plan presents "People who helped save Minamata Bay" | |
| Dec. | Healthy Minamata tea produced | |
| 2008 | Feb. | Minamata City wins special award for regional coordination at Ministry of the Environment's "Stop Global Warming" National competition |
| Feb. | Moyai Music Festival | |
| Mar. | Ishisakagawa Elementary, Ishitobi Branch Schools close | |
| Mar. | A new route to Yonotsuru for the Minakuru bus was created | |
| Apr. | The Fureai Farm on the east of Minamata opened | |
| Apr. | The delegation from the sister city, Devonport, visited Minamata | |
| May | Tsukinoura Fureai Park in the Tsukinoura Welfare New Town opened | |
| May | "Minamata International Conference: The Realization of a Sustainable Society" | |
| June | Confirmation for stopping the plan for Final Disposal Spot for Production Waste |