A World Otherwise: Environmental Praxis in Minamata

(Hardback)

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Description

This book examines the struggles of those suffering from Minimata disease, eponymous with the Japanese city in which a Chisso factory released methylmercury into the Shiranui Sea, leading to widespread poisonings. Yuki Miyamoto explores Minimata sufferers struggles, examining their physical pains as well as the emotional plight of having lost their loved ones, their livelihood, and fellowship in communities, to the illness. Miyamotos analysis focuses on the philosophies and actions of a group, Hongan no kai, comprised of Minamata disease sufferers and their supporters in 1994. Relying on the groups newsletter, Tamashii utsure, (Transferring the spirit), this monograph explores the ways in which Hongan no kai members have come to terms with their experiences as well as their visions of a world otherwise (janaka shaba), where ontology, epistemology, and worldviews are construed differently from those of this modern world.

Reviews

This important book investigates how religious worldviews influence survivors' views of industrial pollution at Minamata, one of Japan's best known cases of methylmercury contamination. Through interviews with members of the group Hongan no kai (Association of the Original Vow) and deep readings of their publications, Miyamoto integrates the voices, thoughts, and actions of those who have suffered because of Japan's industrial growth and social discrimination. Observers familiar with the ongoing disaster at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plants and the resulting radioactive contamination will see many grim parallels here.

Author Bio

Yuki Miyamoto is associate professor at DePaul University.