On Friday, workers in Tokyo filed a 6.6 billion yen (about 444 million U.S. dollars) class action lawsuit against the government and manufacturers who, they believe, were responsible for causing asbestos-related disease. The plaintiffs claim that the government and manufacturers knew of the dangers of asbestos inhalation but failed to take proper precautions, including ceasing to promote asbestos as a cheap fire retardant and banning production of the material.

The claim states that after working among asbestos, 172 employees developed mesothelioma, lung cancer, or have died as a result of exposure. They charge the government with failing to react quickly to international asbestos warnings issued in 1972. "We will do our utmost until we win the suit," said Kazuo Miyajima, 78, who heads the group of plaintiffs.

A recent article states, "After a 2005 revelation that residents who lived near a factory in Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture developed diseases related to asbestos, the government implemented a law in 2006 which provides monetary assistance to asbestos victims and relatives of deceased family members. The plaintiffs argue that the amount of financial assistance given to families and victims of asbestos-related diseases is not sufficient."

In Tokyo, 45 people have been identified with health problems related to asbestos exposure at the Ota Ward former factory site.  Prior to this major diagnosis, a few victims of asbestos-related disease had come forward complaining of the factory site.

Each of the 45 newest victims are between ages 50 and 90 and have lived near the factory site of Miyadera Insulation Corp., which manufactured asbestos-laden products.   Three were factory employees, 29 were family members of employees, three played on the site as children, and ten never entered the site.  These ten are believed to have been affected by airborne asbestos.

Because of the dramatic increase in recent diagnoses, the Ward's office is now providing the 916 current and former residents of the area with free medical examinations.