... is a neurological syndrome caused by severe mercury poisoning. It's named after the Japanese city where it was first identified in 1956. A local chemical plant, belonging to the Chisso Corporation, was found to have been releasing large quantities of water contaminated with methyl mercury into the sea since 1932, and continued doing so until 1968. The poison accumulated in local sea life, which was then eaten by the local human population.
The disease affected some 2,265 people, resulting in 1,784 deaths. By March 2001, over 10,000 individuals had received financial compensation from Chisso. By 2004, Chisso Corporation had paid out $86 million, and in the same year the company was ordered to clean up its contamination.
(There do appear to be some inconsistencies in this account. Once again, I blame Wikipedia.)
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