{"product_id":"the-minamata-story-an-ecotragedy-9781611720563","title":"The Minamata Story: An Ecotragedy","description":"A powerful graphic novel \/manga that tells the story of \"Minamata disease,\" a debilitating and sometimes fatal condition caused by the Chisso chemical factory's careless release of methylmercury into the waters of the coastal community of Minamata in southern Japan. First identified in 1956, it became a hot topic in Japan in the 1970s and 80s, growing into an iconic struggle between people versus corporations and government agencies. This struggle is relevant today, not simply because many people are still living with the disease but also because, in this time of growing concern over the safety of our environment--viz. Flint, Michigan--Minamata gives us as a very moving example of such human-caused environmental disasters and what we can do about them.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSean Michael Wilson\u003c\/strong\u003e is a comic book writer from Scotland. He has had more than 30 books published with a variety of US, UK and Japanese publishers. Working with various Japanese artists he has written a unique line of Japanese history\/martial arts books, including \u003ci\u003eThe Book of Five Rings, Yakuza Moon \u003c\/i\u003eand\u003ci\u003e Black Ships. \u003c\/i\u003e In 2016 his book \u003ci\u003eThe Faceless Ghost\u003c\/i\u003e was nominated for the prestigious Eisner Book Awards and received a medal in the 2016 'Independent Publisher Book Awards'. In 2017, his book \u003ci\u003eSecrets of the Ninja \u003c\/i\u003ewon an International Manga Award from the Japanese government - he is the first British person to receive this award.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAkiko Shimojima\u003c\/strong\u003e is a comic artist from Japan. Her career began when she was in a university in NY. Her comics have been published by several companies in Japan and other countries. She has been working with Sean Michael Wilson, on various projects, including \u003ci\u003eThe 47 Ronin, Bushido, \u003c\/i\u003eand\u003ci\u003e the Satsuma Rebellion\u003c\/i\u003e. Her book \u003ci\u003eCold Mountain\u003c\/i\u003e was the winner of the China Comic and Animation Competition 2015 'Best Overseas Comic' award. She also teaches how to draw digital comics at a college in Tokyo.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBrian Small\u003c\/strong\u003e is an environmental activist and teacher at Minami Kyushu University.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Stone Bridge Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50726673711378,"sku":"9781611720563","price":10.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_5ef58411-0025-40c6-8383-4406c2a98489.jpg?v=1734879173","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/the-minamata-story-an-ecotragedy-9781611720563","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}