Kibichuo Town Mayor Masanori Yamamoto took careless approach to the high levels of PFOA contamination in the town’s tap water.

Despite receiving notice from the Bizen Public Health Center that the town’s tap water was contaminated, the town did not immediately inform the residents and continued to supply water. The Mayor himself participated in a local festival. The public health center pointed out that “the town does not have a crisis management system.”

The health center is a prefectural organization in charge of the health of the prefecture’s residents, and Ryuta Ibaragi, the governor, serves as the prefecture’s head. In comparison to Yamamoto, who was careless, how did Ibaragi handle this emergency?

Inspired by the case of Kakamigahara City, Gifu Prefecture, where the mayor was accused

Kibichuo Town announced to residents that drinking tap water in the Enjo area will be prohibited at 5:00 p.m. on October 16, 2023.

Two hours earlier, at 3:00 p.m., the Health Crisis Management Measures Liaison Meeting was held in conference room no.2 of the Okayama Prefectural Office.

This meeting is held in the following cases:

A situation (health crisis) that threatens the lives and health of the prefecture’s residents has occurred or is likely to occur due to food poisoning, infectious diseases, poisonous or hazardous substances, or other causes.

The members are defined as follows:

Chairman, Director of Health and Medical Affairs Department

 

Vice-chairman, Deputy Director of the Health and Medical Affairs Department

 

Members

Chief of the Crisis Management Division, Chief of the Public Hearings and Public Relations Division, Chief of the Policy Promotion Division, Chief of the General Affairs and Academic Affairs Division, Chief of the Citizens’ Life and Transportation Division, Chief of the Environmental Planning Division, Chief of the Health and Medical Affairs Division, Chief of the Medical Promotion Division, Chief of the Health Promotion Division, Chief of the Public Hygiene Division, Chief of the Pharmaceutical Safety Division, Chief of the Welfare Planning Division, Chief of the Industrial Planning Division, Chief of the Agricultural Policy Planning Division, Chief of the Supervision Division of the Civil Engineering Department, Chief of the Accounting Division of the Treasury Bureau, Chief of the General Affairs and Planning Division of the Enterprise Bureau, Chief of the Education Policy Division, Chief of the Police Affairs Division of the Prefectural Police Headquarters

The objective is to accomplish the following three things quickly and accurately:

1)  Identifying the cause

 

2) Ensuring appropriate medical care

 

3) Preventing the spread of health damage

The Bizen Public Health Center noticed the contamination of Kibichuo Town’s tap water on October 12. At the meeting, the events that followed on that day were first shared.

Among the materials prepared by the Health and Medical Affairs Department was the phrase “reference.”

<Reference>

PFOS and PFOA had been exceeding the target levels since around November 2020 in Kakamigahara City, Gifu Prefecture. The city made it public in July 2023, and it has been pressed with responses, including with the mayor holding an apology press conference.

The Health and Medical Affairs Department had in mind the fact that the city of Kakamigahara in Gifu Prefecture had covered up PFAS contamination, and the mayor was forced to apologize.

Here’s a summary of what happened:

In Kakamigahara City, Gifu Prefecture, high concentrations of PFAS were detected in the source of tap water used by approximately 72,000 people. A survey in 2020 recorded 99 ng/L, and subsequent tests recorded a maximum of 790 ng/L.

However, the city concealed the fact for three years. It wasn’t until July 2023 that it became public, and the mayor apologized. Media outlets covered the story and held those involved accountable.

The incident in Kakamigahara overlaps with the situation in Kibichuo Town, where the concentration is much higher, at 1,200-1,400 ng/L, than in Kakamigahara.

Materials distributed at the Okayama Prefecture Health Crisis Management Measures Liaison Meeting on October 16, 2023

“Surprised” at support group’s violation of the Political Funds Control Law

Governor Ryuta Ibaragi did not attend the Health Crisis Management Measures Liaison Meeting on October 16. He attended the Chugoku Regional Governors’ Association.

Ibaragi is currently in his third term as governor of Okayama Prefecture. He was first elected in 2012 with the endorsement of the Liberal Democratic Party, Komei Party, and Rengo (the Japan Trade Union Confederation). Prior to becoming governor, he served as president and CEO of Tenmaya, a department store chain with branches in Okayama, Hiroshima, and Tottori Prefectures, for 14 years. Tenmaya was founded in 1829. Ibaragi took over the position of president from his father, Ibaragi Kazue.

In December 2021, Ibaragi’s supporters’ groups, “Ibaragi Ryuta Supporters’ Group” and “Iki-iki Okayama,” were involved in a violation of the Political Funds Control Act.

In September 2023, the Okayama District Public Prosecutors Office summarily indicted two people connected to the supporters’ group on charges of violating the Political Funds Control Act. The following October, the Okayama Summary Court ordered them to pay fines of 1 million yen each.

At a press conference held afterward, Ibaragi stated his opinion, saying, “The prosecutors conducted an extensive investigation and determined that there had been inappropriate activity. We are keenly aware of our lack of knowledge and awareness and of our responsibility.”

“From our perspective, it was a real surprise. Prosecutors passed the bar exam with excellent results and have been practicing law for many years, whereas no one in our office has passed the bar exam, so we were surprised. But we are sorry that such a decision was made. In any case, although we have been carrying out our work calmly, we feel sorry about the decision, which we did not foresee.”

“Extremely disappointed” at the town’s delayed response

Governor Ibaragi spoke publicly about the contamination of the tap water in Kibichuo Town on October 26 during a press conference at the prefectural office. Twelve days had already passed since the contamination was discovered.

The governor’s opening remarks were not about the contamination of tap water, but about the following four points:

・Denim Day Initiative

 

・KOUGEI EXPO IN OKAYAMA

 

・Okayama Marathon 2023

 

・”Okayama Enmusubi Net” achieves 250 successful marriages

Regarding his efforts to promote denim products, he said the following:

“First, I would like to talk about our Denim Day initiative. Today, October 26, is the day that sounds like ‘De (10) Nim (26)’, so I will be wearing a denim suit to work today.”

The topic of PFOA contamination was mentioned during the question-and-answer session with reporters.

“I would like to ask about the detection of harmful substances at the Kibichuo Town water purification plant. First of all, what is your opinion on this issue?”

Ibaragi prefaced his response by saying, “This is the first time I’ve commented on this,” and then said:

“The items of water quality control, including PFOS, an organic fluorine compound that has been pointed out as harmful, are not water quality standards stipulated by the Water Supply Act.”

“Although it is not a water quality standard, the government has notified us that we are to make efforts to publicize the test results and warn related parties.”

“In this context, we are extremely disappointed that action was delayed despite the fact that PFOS and other substances in Kibichuo Town’s tap water had exceeded provisional target values ​​since 2020.”

Ibaragi first explained that there are no standards for PFOA under the Water Supply Act, and then said he was “extremely disappointed” that action had been taken so late.

So who was slow to respond? Ibaragi continues:

“We deeply regret that during the on-site inspection on the 14th of this month, a false explanation was given that no water quality testing for PFOS and other substances had been conducted in 2020.”

“In addition, the Japan Water Works Association’s 2020 Water Supply Statistics Survey also published information that was false, stating that the level was ‘less than 1 ng/L.’ We are forced to say that the management of water quality test results was inappropriate.”

In other words, Ibaragi explained to the residents that the town had not conducted water quality testing in 2020, and blamed the town for reporting false PFOA concentrations to the Water Works Association.

What will the prefecture do? Ibaragi emphasized that the town will play a central role in dealing with the issue.

“Now, Kibichuo Town Mayor Yamamoto is spearheading a desperate response, and the prefecture is providing all its support. I believe that residents in the affected areas are extremely concerned. We would like to deal with the situation as quickly as possible. The prefecture would also like to back up Kibichuo Town’s response.”

However, the contamination of the tap water in Kibichuo Town is a serious issue, with over 1,000 residents already affected. The prefecture itself has set up a “Health Crisis Management Measures Liaison Meeting.” The health effects may become clear in the future. Why is the prefecture not taking the lead in dealing with this? Why is it limited to “support” and “backup”?

Message From the Governor (photo from Okayama Prefecture official website)

The Public Hearings and Public Relations Division denies interview requests with the governor

Tansa reached out to Ibaragi for a face-to-face interview.

The Public Hearings and Public Relations Division, which is the governor’s contact point for interviews, responded.

“The relevant section chief will handle this, not the governor.”

I replied, “I am currently interviewing the relevant departments separately, so I would like to hear the governor’s own opinion.”

However, the person in charge replied, “if you were to interview the governor directly, the governor would have to be interviewed on every issue.”

Do they not understand the seriousness of the situation? What is happening in Kibichuo Town has the highest concentration of PFOA contamination in its tap water in the country. It is only natural that the governor, who is responsible for the prefecture, should be interviewed.

The governor serves as both the head of the prefectural government and an elected politician. Prefectural officials can only answer questions based on laws and ordinances, however, the governor can express his or her judgment. After conveying that, I asked,

“I would like to hear Mr. Ibaragi’s views as a politician.”

However, they declined my in-person interview request.

To be continued.

(Originally published in Japanese on July 2, 2024. Translation by Mana Shibata.)

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