Culture

EDITORIAL | Deaths of Kyoto Animation Talents Must Not Be in Vain

The 36 Kyoto Animation victims who died 5 years ago were the future of Japan's famed anime. Honor them, continue their work, and prevent copycat tragedies.

Published

2 months ago

July 24, 2024

Editorial Board, The Sankei Shimbun

The monument in Uji, Kyoto to honor the memory of those who died in the arson attack on a Kyoto Animation studio in the summer of 2019. (©Sankei by Yukia Watanabe)

It has been five years since the Kyoto Animation (Kyo Anime) arson and murder. The incident left 36 people dead and 32 injured, many seriously. This shocking case of premeditated mass murder was carried out with strong homicidal intent at a studio of one of Japan's foremost anime firms. Furthermore, it spread social anxiety and gave rise to copycat crimes.

What is more, arson incidents involving gasoline continue to occur. Countermeasures to prevent their recurrence are still coming together.

What needs to be done to prevent an incident as tragic as the Kyo Anime attack from ever happening again?

The first step is to continue serious discussions throughout society. That includes conversations in local communities, workplaces, and homes.

*There was a memorial service in memory of the victims at the former site of Kyoto Animation's Studio 1, the scene of the arson and murder, in Kyoto on July 18. (Provided by the company)*

No Sincere Remorse

In January 2024, the Kyoto District Court sentenced the perpetrator, Shinji Aoba, to death as the prosecution had requested. He had been indicted on murder and four other charges. Then, the defense filed an appeal with the Osaka High Court. However, a date for the second trial has not yet been set.

Aoba's stated motive was his delusional belief that Kyo Anime had stolen an unpublished novel he had submitted to them. Also, the defendant claimed that he had been influenced in his conduct by the Takefuji Incident in 2001. That incident involved an arson attack on a consumer finance office in Aomori City.

However, he also claimed that the Akihabara Incident of 2008 influenced his behavior. In that case, the attacker engaged in an indiscriminate rampage. He attacked pedestrians first with a rented vehicle, and then a knife, in Tokyo's famous electronics merchandise district.

Aoba made perfunctory expressions of remorse and apologized during the trial, saying his thinking was "shallow" and that he was sorry. However, in its verdict, the court concluded that "[the defendant] had not shown any sincere remorse and we cannot expect any improvement."

*Kyoto Animation President Hideaki Hatta responds to questions after the memorial ceremony on July 18, 2024, in Kyoto. (©Sankei by Shigereu Amari)*

The Problem of Copycat Incidents

The Kyo Anime Incident led to a revision of the Fire Service Act to require the identity of the purchaser, even for sales of small quantities of gasoline, as well as verification of the intended use.

Nevertheless, around two years later, there was an arson attack on a clinic in Osaka's Kita Shinchi district. Twenty-six people were killed as the perpetrator spread gasoline he had purchased claiming that it was for his motorcycle. He later died from injuries sustained in the fire.

Then on July 16, 2024, a man scattered flammable liquid and set himself on fire at Takahama City Hall in Aichi Prefecture. He was injured, as were several staff members.

*On the 5th anniversary, people visited the "Monument to Aspirations that Unite People" to mourn the victims. (©Sankei by Yukia Watanabe)*

Thirty-Six Birds

To mark the fifth anniversary of the Kyo Anime Incident, the Sankei Shimbun surveyed fire departments nationwide. Every ordinance-designated city was included. Many answers noted the difficulty of preventing copycat crimes under the current law and also offered that thorough fire prevention measures would be the most effective. These include expanding evacuation routes in buildings and regularly conducting evacuation drills to prepare for unexpected large-scale fires.

Family members of the deceased victims erealso acted, erecting the "Monument to Aspirations that Unite People" in July. Depicting 36 birds, it sits in a park in the city of Uji, Kyoto. That is the same area where the head office of Kyoto Animation is located.

The birds represent the individuals who died that hot summer day five years ago. Those 36 talented artists ranged in age from 21 to 61 years old. They were seen, moreover, as the future of Japanese anime, which is famed throughout the world.

"We will send out to the entire world images and stories for children and all generations," reads the inscription on the monument.

May future generations continue to remember the achievements of the Kyo Anime victims.