Anthropological Archival Research on the Historical Significance of Minamata Disease-related Photographs

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K13284
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 04030:Cultural anthropology and folklore-related
• Research Institution: Kumamoto University
• Principal Investigator: Kamuro Yumi 熊本大学, 文書館, 特任助教 (40806410)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: アーカイブズ / 写真 / 歴史性 / メチル水銀中毒事件 / 水俣

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The achievements of this project are as follows. First, regarding the historicalization of the significance and interaction of Minamata disease-related photographs, I published a peer-reviewed paper on photographs taken by photographers Shisei Kuwabara and Takeshi Shiota in the 1960s and 1970s　and contributed to a collection of articles. In addition, I gave oral presentations at the Japanese Society of Cultural Anthropology, and organized an online event. Second, in collaboration with the bereaved family of Takeshi Shiota, a database of about 1,000 Shiota negative films was constructed and prepared for public access at the Kumamoto University Archives. Third, I participated in regular meetings of the "Minamata Photographer's Eye," a general incorporated association established in 2022 by photographers who have taken Minamata disease-related photographs and their bereaved families, and took part in networking and practical activities between them.

Free Research Field

文化人類学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究の学術的および社会的意義は以下の2つである。（１）文化人類学とアーカイブズ学を横断した観点から水俣病関係写真の保存と公開に関する具体的事例の記述を行い、両学問分野に寄与しうる先駆的な研究例を提供した。（２）一般社団法人「水俣・写真家の眼」が目指す水俣病関係写真の保存と未来へ向けた公開の試みに共鳴し、文化人類学およびアーカイブズ学的見地からのノウハウ提供や支援、一般公開のオンラインイベントを行った。写真フィルムの保存とデジタル化、データベース構築に関わる協働作業は、「水俣病」そして不知火海沿岸地域の映像と記憶を広く社会に還元することに直結し、社会的意義が極めて高い。