Following the incident where the microphone was cut off during a meeting between Minamata disease patients and Environment Minister Itoe, another meeting was held in Minamata City, Kumamoto Prefecture. At the meeting, Minister Itoe explained that a survey on the health effects of mercury will begin within two years at the latest.

At the meeting held in Minamata City on the 8th, with the participation of six organizations including the Minamata disease patient group, Minister Itoe announced that a survey using methods developed by the government to objectively evaluate the health effects of mercury will begin within two years at the latest. The organizations have been demanding that the government: △ conduct an effective health survey as soon as possible by utilizing past survey results, given that the government's method takes a long time to examine each individual, and △ conduct a questionnaire survey for all residents of the Shiranui coast, where Minamata disease occurred, to clarify the spread of the damage.

In response to these demands, Minister Itoe simply stated, "I would like to comprehensively examine the methods proposed by the organizations." Participants raised concerns such as "The damage is widespread, but the government's health survey covers the entire Shiranui sea area, so it is questionable whether the damage will be revealed," and "We want to see a clear timeline for the completion of the survey."

After returning to Tokyo for official business, Minister Itoe will meet with an organization again in Minamata City on the 10th and visit the island, the site of the Minamata disease outbreak, on the 11th to meet with other organizations.

After meeting with Minamata disease patient groups and other organizations, Minister Itoe responded to reporters' questions, saying, "This is not an issue that can be resolved in one meeting. I want to carefully examine the matter and move forward." When asked about the organizations' demands, he responded, "It's not a 'zero answer', we have provided some concrete answers, such as setting a timeframe for the implementation of the health survey."

Yoshihiro Yamashita, Acting Representative of the "Minamata Disease Victims and Supporters Contact Council," which consists of organizations related to Minamata disease, stated after meeting with Minister Itoe on the 8th, "We hope that the content conveyed in the meeting will be reflected in future environmental administration. We once again realized that the 3-minute time limit is too short. I believe the Minister has also realized this, so we have high expectations for the future."

Regarding the response to the organizations' demands, while saying "It was a zero answer," he also stated, "I felt that there was a possibility of some change in the future. We hope that today's meeting will lead to a resolution of the issue."

Following the incident in May where an Environment Ministry official cut off the microphone during a meeting between Minamata disease patients and Environment Minister Itoe, this meeting is scheduled to be held without a time limit. On the 8th, six organizations will hold a meeting in Minamata City to demand a review of the patient recognition system, an expansion of support tailored to their living conditions, and the implementation of health surveys for residents in the Shiranui coastal area where Minamata disease occurred.

On the 10th, the Minister will meet with the organization to which the man who cut off the microphone belongs in Minamata City, and on the 11th, meetings will be held in Shishijima, Nagashimacho, Kagoshima Prefecture, and Gosho-urajima, Amakusa City, Kumamoto Prefecture, the areas where Minamata disease occurred. The organizations plan to demand a review of support for victims living on the islands.