Check out Takumi’s NEW English youtube channel🎵
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https://www.youtube.com/@takuway
Lunch with Nagone-san!
Thank you, Wakatsuki-san!
Staff members Ban-san and Miki-san are excited too.
〜〜〜
And then, a tea gathering!
Such an intense group of members!
The voice actress for Chun-Li!
Street Fighter.
Fumiko Orikasa-san, thank you so much!
Yoshihiro Terai-san,
President & CEO of Just Pro Inc.
(Home to talents like Miki Fujimoto)
Thank you!
And Nanao Tanimura-san—
it’s really been such a long time!!!
Thank you so much!
LEENA-san (a model)was so captivating too~~~
Katsuaki Takahashi 🗞️New York ビズ！ (@NYmatenrou) / X
CEO of NY BIZ / Covering the latest news on the frontlines /
Has interviewed over 1,000 well-known figures in Japan and the U.S., from U.S. Presidents to Hollywood stars and Major League players /
Runs the online salon “CLUB NY”
Munetaka Tokuyama (@munetakanyc) · New York, NY
Shungo Oyama-san,
your network is always incredible!
Truly, thank you so much!
I’m also looking forward to your art exhibition!
And then Yamaguchi-san！！！
It was delicious!
Thank you so much!
Kenji Tanabe-san,
Susumu-san from Okayama—
truly, thank you!
And here… top business leaders I can’t even write about!!!
I was treated to a wonderful meal~~~
Retreat @ Yugawara
That was so much fun!
And this morning again, I practiced the breathing method
that stimulates the pineal gland!
"Why is it mostly women who speak out on the PFAS Contamination issue?"
1. Background and the Problem
What is PFAS?
Organic fluorine compounds made of carbon and fluorine bonds (over 10,000 types).
Used in non-stick frying pans, waterproof sprays, semiconductors, and foam fire extinguishers.
PFOS and PFOA have been linked to carcinogenic risks, and regulations are advancing worldwide.
The situation in Japan
Reports of PFAS being detected in tap water and groundwater are increasing.
In Okinawa, it was revealed that residents had been drinking water containing PFAS for years.
2. Director Izumi Taira’s Perspective
Has pursued the PFAS issue since her days at Okinawa TV.
As a mother raising an infant, she was shocked by the realization: “Had I been giving my child poison to drink?”— this became her starting point.
Her documentary film Unai was created with a focus on the actions of women in Japan and abroad confronting this problem.
3. Why Women?
Men are more deeply embedded in society’s “economic and military structures,” making it harder for them to speak out.
Women, as those who give birth, tend to act without fear in order to protect life.
In many countries, movements have naturally arisen with women at the center.
4. Case Study: Amara Strande in the U.S.
Lived in Minnesota, in an area contaminated by PFAS from 3M’s headquarters factory.
Developed liver cancer at age 15, endured over 20 surgeries, and continued to campaign for regulation.
Even when told she had only six months to live, she testified at the state legislature, saying:
“I speak so that future children won’t have to suffer.”As a result, in April 2023, the world’s strictest PFAS regulation (nicknamed the “Amara Law”) was passed.
Amara passed away just before her 21st birthday, about two weeks before the law’s enactment.
5. The Reality of Regulation and Litigation
It is said to take about 50 years to legally establish the causal link between chemical exposure and health damage.
In June 2023, 3M agreed to a settlement of up to $12.5 billion (about ¥1.8 trillion), but did not admit liability.
6. Carrying Forward Hope
Her younger sister, Nora (18), continues the work as an intern at an environmental organization.
She carries not only her sister’s will but also her own determination to make this her life’s work.
Across the globe, women are standing up, becoming the driving force in the movement to protect life.
Conclusion
The reason women speak out is because they are beings who rise above fear in order to protect life.
Though PFAS regulation is extremely difficult, the sacrifices and courage of individuals are the force that can change systems.As the word “Unai” (women supporting one another) suggests, the chain of hope to protect the future is continuing all over the world.
1. Japan’s Current Situation and Its Lax Standards
Current Standard: Combined PFOS + PFOA = 50 nanograms/L (to become a legal standard from 2026).
International Comparison:
U.S.: PFOS and PFOA each at 4 nanograms/L (from 2024).
Germany: Combined total of 20 nanograms/L (from 2028).
→ Japan’s limits are far looser than those of major countries.
2. The Efforts and Hope of Okinawan Mothers
Delivered a speech at the UN Headquarters: “This is not only Okinawa’s problem, but Japan’s as a whole.”
Seeking to leverage external pressure to shift the Japanese government’s stance.
The UN Special Rapporteur’s visit to Okinawa was itself the result of these mothers’ steady grassroots activities.
Shows the importance of citizens continuing to speak out when politicians and the media remain passive.
3. Challenges in the Media
Outside Okinawa, it rarely makes the front page.
Major Tokyo-based broadcasters refused to air coverage.
However, some reporters, such as at the Tokyo Shimbun, have published books and continued raising awareness.
→ Director Taira stresses: “When citizens support journalists and publications, that fuels broader social concern.”
4. What the Film Seeks to Convey
To reaffirm that citizens have the right and the power to raise their voices against injustice.
Abroad, we see examples where civic voices push governments and municipalities into action.
Japan too can start change with the small voices of ordinary citizens.
5. Japanese Research and the “Evidence Debate”
Research by Professor Koji Harada (then Kyoto University, now Kyoto Prefectural University) suggests links between high PFAS exposure and chromosomal abnormalities.
Despite the government’s stance that “there is no evidence,” domestic studies already suggest harmful effects.
Current vicious cycle: “Because no harm is visible, no investigation is done → reality remains unknown → regulation is impossible.”
6. Lack of Transparency in Standard Setting
Japan’s 50-nanogram standard was based on the U.S.’s old threshold of 70 nanograms.
Even after the U.S. tightened it to 4 nanograms, Japan did not follow suit.
In the Food Safety Commission’s expert panel, it was revealed that over 70% (190 of 257) of cited studies were quietly swapped out.
This has raised questions in the National Diet about the legitimacy of how standards were set.
7. The Tug-of-War Between Economy and Regulation
PFAS are considered indispensable for industries such as semiconductors, so business sectors strongly resist stricter regulation.
When the EU opened public comments on a full ban, of 5,642 responses, more than 900 were objections submitted by Japanese companies.
→ Japan’s “economy-first stance” lies behind its lax standards.
Conclusion
Gap with international standards: Japan’s limits are far more lenient than those of leading countries.
Role of citizens: The activism of Okinawan mothers has begun to influence the UN and the international community.
Challenges in media and research: Domestic coverage remains limited, and research findings are not fully reflected in policy.
Impact of economic priorities: Industrial pressure hinders regulatory progress.
Chain of hope: Women who raise their voices out of despair are weaving a chain of hope for the future.
↓↓↓ Did you know this?! ↓↓↓
ITALY: Guilty Verdict for 3 Japanese Employees of a Chemical Manufacturer over PFAS Contamination
The Case
Subject: Pollution of groundwater through wastewater containing PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances).
Location: Under the jurisdiction of Vicenza, northern Italy.
Involved Parties: 15 former executives of a chemical manufacturer, including 3 Japanese employees seconded from Mitsubishi Corporation.
Timeline (Key Points)
1960s–2018: The manufacturer produced PFAS-containing products.
→ Wastewater discharge led to groundwater contamination becoming a local issue.2018: The manufacturer declared bankruptcy.
June 26, 2025: First-instance verdict delivered (reported June 27).
Court’s Ruling (Guilty/Not Guilty)
Of the 15 defendants, 11 were found guilty, 4 were acquitted.
Among the guilty were the 3 Japanese secondees from Mitsubishi Corporation.
Sentences
Overall range: Prison terms from 17 years and 6 months to 2 years and 8 months.
For the 3 Japanese defendants: Two received 16 years, one received 11 years.
Financial Penalties (Public & Civil)
The 11 convicted individuals were ordered to pay €56.8 million (approx. ¥9.6 billion) to Italy’s Ministry of the Environment.
In addition, Mitsubishi Corporation and other related companies were ordered to compensate affected citizens and municipalities.
Company Response
Mitsubishi Corporation statement: “As the case is still under litigation, we refrain from commenting, but we will respond sincerely to the ongoing judicial process.”
Key Points (Summary of Issues)
Long-term operations (1960s–2018) and wastewater discharge causing groundwater contamination were recognized as grounds for both criminal and civil liability.
Even secondees from a foreign parent company were given heavy prison sentences, and the corporate group as a whole was held liable for damages.
The ruling is likely to be considered a first-instance judgment, with appeals and further legal proceedings expected. The company also intends to continue its legal response.
From Okayama to Takamatsu!
Thank you so much!
You can stay in tents
or in a hotel too!
See you camping in Hokkaido
Thank you, Risa-chan,
we had a meeting about the New York seminar in November!
Thanks to all my staff members.
KIYO is back in Japan〜〜〜
Glad to see you in Kyoto〜〜〜
I’m running an Instagram subscription!
Here, I share information that I, Takumi Yamazaki, feel may not be quite enough to post on the blog, but is still connected to the future.
By checking out my TikTok and Instagram, the algorithm will start to shift, and my intention is that you’ll end up tapping into the same information network as me!
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Link to Takumi Yamazaki’s
ENGLISH Book “SHIFT”
