By MAKIKO KOMATSU/ Staff Writer
July 18, 2022 at 16:18 JST
Attendees offer flowers for victims of the arson attack on a Kyoto Animation Co. studio during a memorial service in Kyoto on July 18. (Provided by Kyoto Animation Co.)
KYOTO--A memorial service was held here on July 18 for bereaved families and others to pay their respects to the 36 victims who perished in the arson attack on a Kyoto Animation Co. studio three years ago.
Among the approximately 120 people who attended the service were family members of those who died and Hideaki Hatta, president of Kyoto Animation.
The company has urged anime fans to refrain from visiting and congregating in the area near where the studio used to stand in this city’s Fushimi Ward out of consideration for people in the neighborhood and as a precaution against the novel coronavirus.
Company officials said a video created to remember the victims with messages from their relatives and colleagues at Kyoto Animation will be streamed on the company’s official YouTube channel through July 18.
In one of the messages, a staff member said: “You always gave me courage when I was in trouble. You were mentally strong and just looking at how you approached your job inspired me to work harder. You were usually quiet. But when it comes to anime works, you became very eloquent, telling me about what interested you about some titles and your desire to create a new anime. I was surprised by the gap you showed, but really enjoyed talking with you. I will never forget you.”
The attack on July 18, 2019, left the No. 1 studio engulfed in flames, leaving 32 people injured, some seriously, in addition to 36 staff members who died after being trapped in the building.
Kyoto prefectural police arrested Shinji Aoba, 44, on suspicion of murder and arson in May 2020. Aoba, an unemployed Saitama resident, was indicted in December that year on multiple charges of murder and attempted murder.
He suffered severe burns over a large portion of his body after being suspected of setting fire to the studio by igniting gasoline that he sprayed around.
After repeated surgeries, Aoba has recovered to the point that he can carry on a conversation.
But it is still unclear when his trial will begin.
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