On November 18, 2025, the “PFAS Pollution Metiation Committee against Daikin” (Preparatory Committee), a group of citizens and lawyers, held a press conference in Osaka City. They called on applicants to participate in the “Daikin PFAS Pollution Mediation” scheduled for later this year.

Pollution mediation is a system in which the local government, upon receiving an application, investigates the actual state of pollution and intermediates or arbitrates to resolve the issue. It is based on the Basic Act on Environmental Pollution Control and the Act on the Settlement of Environmental Pollution Disputes, which were enacted in the 1960s and 1970s when chemical pollution was common across the country.

Daikin Industries, Ltd., is causing PFOA contamination over a wide area, including Osaka City, mainly at its Yodogawa Plant in Settsu City, Osaka Prefecture. Of the more than 10,000 types of organic fluorine compounds known as PFAS, PFOA is highly toxic, and its production and import are prohibited.

However, Daikin has refused to disclose information, apologize, or provide compensation as requested by the residents. Concerned residents have decided to work with lawyers to accuse Daikin of PFOA contamination through pollution mediation.

Through mediation, they will request Daikin to disclose information and conduct health surveys, and discuss compensation for victims and the restoration of the contaminated environment.

Anyone can apply, including anxious residents and commuters to Settsu City. The first round of applications is scheduled for the end of 2025, with a goal of 1,000 applicants.

Three points to be sought in mediation

The Daikin PFAS Pollution Mediation will be submitted to Osaka Prefecture. The followings are the three requests to Daikin regarding PFAS contamination:

1. Disclosure of all materials

 

2. Continuous environmental and health surveys

 

3. Framework for pollution control and victim compensation through community participation council

The four people who made the appeal at the press conference were Sohei Wada, Nobuyuki Shimizu, Akifumi Toyama, and Fumio Nagase.

Wada and Shimizu live in Settsu City’s Hitotsuya district, which is home to Daikin’s Yodogawa Plant. Since the 1960s, the company has been producing and utilizing PFOA there for almost 50 years.

Toyama is the head priest of Zuikoji Temple, which is located next to Settsu City in Osaka City’s Higashiyodogawa Ward. In a national survey carried out by the Ministry of the Environment in 2021, the groundwater in the well at Zuikoji Temple had nearly the highest level of concentration of PFOA. It is not possible to use the well water. Although Osaka Prefecture has admitted that Daikin was the source of the contamination, no compensation has been offered.

Nagase serves as Secretary General of the “Osaka PFAS Contamination and Health Study Group.” In 2023, the group conducted PFAS blood tests on 1,200 people in Osaka Prefecture. The results revealed that residents living closer to the Yodogawa Plant were more likely to be exposed to PFOA. At the press conference, Nagase read out a letter from parents concerned about PFOA contamination near Daikin’s plant.

The eight lawyers representing the residents are all experienced in fighting on behalf of residents in cases of chemical pollution in Osaka and the areas surrounding, including asbestos damage and dioxin contamination. (Titles omitted)

Naoki Ikeda (Chief of the Defense Team), Kohei Mochizuki (Secretary General), Akio Muramatsu, Kohei Oda, Shinya Yogo, Takumi Kagari, Yoshikazu Aoki, Naoto Yoneda

Aiming for 1,000 applicants by the end of the year

Currently, 156 applicants have been registered.

The application is open to anyone concerned about environmental pollution and health hazards caused by the Daikin Yodogawa Plant. This applies not only to residents of nearby Settsu City and Osaka City, but also to commuters and students. The participation fee is 2,000 yen per household, which will be used for legal fees, etc.

An information session will also be held for residents considering applying. The venue will be at the Ajio Community Center in Settsu City, and the dates are as follows:

Monday, November 24 at 18:00 to 19:30

Sunday, November 30 at 14:00 to 15:30

Sunday, December 7 at 18:00 to 19:30

Sunday, December 14 at 14:00 to 15:30

Sunday, December 21 at 14:00 to 15:30

The goal is to have 1,000 applicants. The first round of applications is expected to be filed by the end of the year, and the “PFAS Pollution Metiation Committee against Daikin” will hold its inaugural general meeting on December 13.

(Originally published in Japanese on November 18, 2025. Translation by Mana Shibata.)

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