After over 50 years of river improvement and conservation, Minamata, a city well-known for its hot-spring in Kumamoto, Japan, not only left the nightmare of Minamata disease behind, but also became a model city for environmental protection in Japan.

Under the high rise building category, Taipei Tech ranks No.2 in the UI GreenMetric World University ranking globally. Devoted in green technology R&D, Taipei Tech signed a MOU with Minamata city in order to learn from their lessons. Supported by Sakura Exchange Program in Science which was launched and funded by Japan government, Taipei Tech student can exchange thoughts and ideas with other Asia peers on conservation.

Back in 1950s, Minamata disease, a neurological syndrome caused by severe mercury poisoning, outbreak in Japan and infected more than 2,300 people in Japan. To gain a better understanding of the disease and its prevention, Taipei Tech visit group consists of 4 students and led by assistant professor Wang Li-bang from the Institute of Environmental Engineering and Management went to the National Institute for Minamata Disease and Minamata Disease Museum. Other activities including intertidal zone ecological investigation and visiting waste glass recycle factory were also included as parts of learning.

Dr. Wang noted that Minamata disease was one of the four main pollution diseases during Japan’s pursue of economic growth in last century. The goal for this study trip is to pass experience and lesson down to other Asia countries preventing tragedy from happening again.