Information AboutChisso Corporation |
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PRODUCTS HISTORY K.K. The origin of Chisso Corporation is Sogi Denki K.K. founded in 1906 . It ran a Hydroelectric Power Station in Okuchi, Kagoshima . Shitagau Noguchi ( 1873-07-26 – 1944-01-15 ) was the founder. He studied Electrical Engineering at the University Of Tokyo and graduated from it in 1896 . After he worked for several companies, he organized Sogi Denki K.K. Sogi Denki K.K. supplied electricity for mines in Okuchi, Kagoshima , but its power station left superfluous capacity. To use the surplus power, Shitagau Noguchi founded another company that produces Calcium Carbide in Minamata, Kumamoto . As soon as Shitagau Noguchi introduced the process of Calcium Cyanamide from Germany , which is used as a Fertilizer , he merged his two companies into Nippon Chisso Hiryo K.K. in 1908 . ''Nippon Chisso Hiryo'' literally means "Japan Nitrogen Fertilizer", and the company is sometimes referred to as "Japan Nitrogen Fertilizer Company" in English Language . In 1927 , Nippon Chisso Hiryo K.K. built a huge Chemical Complex in Hamhung , Korea . In those days, Korea was a Colony of Japan , and Nippon Chisso Hiryo K.K. invested Korea more aggressively than any other companies. After Japan lost the World War II in 1945 , Korea recovered its independence. Nippon Chisso Hiryo K.K. was forced to abandon all properties in Korea. Furthermore, the Allies that Occupied Japan ordered dismissal of Nippon Chisso Hiryo K.K., regarding it as a company that adhered to the militarism government. In 1950 , Shin Nippon Chisso Hiryo K.K. was founded as a successor of Nippon Chisso Hiryo K.K. ''Shin'' means "new" in Japanese Language . Nippon Chisso Hiryo K.K. had started production of Acetaldehyde at Minamata plant in 1932 , and Shin Nippon Chisso Hiryo K.K. continued it. The plant discharged waste fluid containing Mercury to Minamata Bay. Mercury was accumulated in fish and in people who ate fish over many years, and harmed the people's Central Nerves . Hajime Hosokawa, a doctor at a hospital funded by Shin Nippon Chisso Hiryo K.K., officially reported in 1956-05-01 that central-nerves disease of unknown etiology is observed frequently around Minamata. This date is considered to be the revelation date of Minamata Disease now. In 1963 , doctors at Kumamoto University concluded that the cause of Minamata disease was mercury emitted by Shin Nippon Chisso Hiryo K.K. In 1965 , The company changed its name to Chisso Corporation. In 1969 , the first lawsuit was sued against Chisso Corporation. Many lawsuits were sued against Chisso Corporation after 1969, and some of them go on even now. Chisso used Yakuza in order to threaten and silence patients and their supporters. Patients and their supporters started the "single shareholder" movement by buying one share of Chisso each, which was aimed to accuse the executives of Chisso in its general meeting. A thousand of single shareholders participated in the movement gathered in front of a hall in Osaka to attend the general meeting called on November 28 , 1970 , but the company did not let them in the hall, by asking yakuza to become shareholders and occupy there. The meeting ended in five minutes with all the bills submitted by the board approved. The company's 'historical overview' in its current website makes no mention of their role in the mass contamination of Minamata and the dreadful aftermath. Their 2004 Annual Report however reports an equivalent of about US$50 million (5,820 million yen) in 'Minamata Disease Compensation Liabilities'. From 2000 to 2003 the company also reported total compensation liabilities of over US$170 million. Their 2000 accounts also show that the Japanese and Kumamoto Prefectural governments waived an enormous US$560 million in related liabilities. REFERENCES
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