Kyoto Animation held a memorial ceremony pay tribute to the 36 victims of the arson attack that occurred in 2019 at one of its facilitieswhile the trial of the alleged culprit is underway in a higher court after the defense appealed the death sentence.

The ceremony was held at the studio in Kyoto's Fushimi district, where the studio was once located, and the company asked fans not to go to the location to keep the event private. On July 18, 2019, there were 70 workers inside the company's Studio No. 1 when Shinji Aoba allegedly started the fire using gasoline. In addition to the deceased, another 32 people suffered injuries of varying severity.

Kyoto Animation, known internationally as KyoAni, has produced popular animations such as “K-On!” and “The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya.” «Even after five years, the feeling of loss for our dear colleagues remains in our hearts.“, said an employee in a message of condolence during the event, which was attended by around 140 people, including employees and family members of the deceased.

«We are deeply saddened and grieved by the loss of our colleagues.» Kyoto Animation President Hideaki Hatta said in his speech, adding that the staff worked tirelessly to protect the company and continue the legacy of the victims. Mentioning the names of the works produced after the incident, Hatta stated: “We will continue to create and deliver works that value everyone's ambitions.».

The messages were released by the company as the ceremony was not open to the media. Kyoto Animation plans to erect a cenotaph with the names of the victims on the site where Studio No. according to a lawyer representing the company. There are also plans to rebuild a facility for animation production, the lawyer said.

The memorial event was held after a memorial to remember the incident was completed earlier this month at a park in Uji, Kyoto, where the company's headquarters are located. The monument, approximately three meters high, features 36 birds rising into the sky, representing each of the victims, and was designed by the company's creators.

Aoba, 46, was sentenced to death in January by the Kyoto District Court for the attack, but appealed the sentence to the Osaka High Court. Aoba was detained at the scene of the attack, but was only arrested by police in May 2020 after receiving treatment for severe burns. He claimed that his attack was motivated by the belief that Kyoto Animation had plagiarized a novel he had entered into a contest organized by the company. Aoba underwent six months of psychiatric examinations before prosecutors decided in December 2020 that he could be held criminally responsible.

Why has it been five years and justice has not yet been served against those responsible?

The legal process in Japan can be long and complex, especially in high-profile cases like this one. After the attack, Aoba had to receive extensive medical treatment for the burns he suffered, delaying his arrest until May 2020. Subsequently, psychiatric examinations were conducted to determine his mental capacity, which took another six months. These examinations were necessary to ensure that Aoba could be held criminally responsible.

In January 2024, the Kyoto District Court sentenced him to death, but his defense appealed the sentence, transferring the case to the Osaka High Court. These types of appeals are part of the legal process and can take some time while all aspects of the case are reviewed.

Furthermore, the nature of the crime and its impact on Japanese society meant that this case was followed with great care and detail to ensure that justice was properly served. In the meantime, Kyoto Animation and the families of the victims continue to seek justice and honor the memory of the loved ones they lost in this tragic incident.

Source: Kyodo News