Try Group Releases Corrected Minamata Disease Educational Videos After Hereditary Error
Try Group, a Tokyo-based private tutoring company, has released new video teaching materials correcting a significant factual error regarding Minamata disease. The previous materials, available on their 'Try IT' app and YouTube between 2015 and 2025, incorrectly stated that the disease was hereditary. This misinformation reached approximately 7,000 app users and over 70,000 YouTube viewers before being flagged in April 2025. Following an apology and the removal of the old content, Try Group personnel visited Kumamoto and Niigata prefectures to consult with patients and support organizations. The newly created 17-minute video explicitly clarifies that Minamata disease is caused by methylmercury poisoning, not genetic inheritance, while also addressing the historical context of prejudice and discrimination faced by victims. The updated materials include testimonies from patients, such as Masami Ogata, and utilize illustrations to explain the mechanism of fetal Minamata disease. This initiative aims to disseminate accurate historical and scientific knowledge to students, ensuring that the misconceptions surrounding this major pollution-related disease are corrected in educational settings.
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Try Group Releases Corrected Minamata Disease Educational Videos After Hereditary Error
Try Group, a Tokyo-based private tutoring company, has released new video teaching materials correcting a significant factual error regarding Minamata disease. The previous materials, available on their 'Try IT' app and YouTube between 2015 and 2025, incorrectly stated that the disease was hereditary. This misinformation reached approximately 7,000 app users and over 70,000 YouTube viewers before being flagged in April 2025. Following an apology and the removal of the old content, Try Group personnel visited Kumamoto and Niigata prefectures to consult with patients and support organizations. The newly created 17-minute video explicitly clarifies that Minamata disease is caused by methylmercury poisoning, not genetic inheritance, while also addressing the historical context of prejudice and discrimination faced by victims. The updated materials include testimonies from patients, such as Masami Ogata, and utilize illustrations to explain the mechanism of fetal Minamata disease. This initiative aims to disseminate accurate historical and scientific knowledge to students, ensuring that the misconceptions surrounding this major pollution-related disease are corrected in educational settings.
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