TOKYO, Japan – Shinji Aoba, 45, has been convicted and sentenced to death for the 2019 arson attack on the Kyoto Animation studio in Japan, which resulted in the deaths of 36 people. This tragic event marked Japan’s deadliest crime in decades.
Following the court’s verdict, Aoba stated in a rare interview with the Asahi Shimbun newspaper that he accepts the decision. This comes after his defense team, who initially pleaded not guilty on the grounds of Aoba having a mental disorder, appealed the ruling.
Aoba expressed his acceptance of the verdict, stating, “I seriously accept the verdict.” He also mentioned the reason behind his decision to continue with the court case, saying, “because I would not be able to speak out if I did not continue”.
The arson attack at Kyoto Animation resulted in the deaths of many young individuals, with survivors recounting Aoba’s actions of breaking into the building, spreading gasoline, and shouting “drop dead” before igniting the fire. The presiding judge described the victims as being “engulfed in fire and smoke in the blink of an eye,” and condemned Aoba’s actions as “truly cruel and inhumane”.
Aoba, who sustained burns on 90% of his body, claimed that the studio had stolen his ideas, a claim denied by Kyoto Animation. The tragedy has sparked discussions on Japan’s capital punishment system, as it remains one of the few developed countries that still implement it.
The devastating impact of the arson attack at Kyoto Animation continues to resonate, with the court’s ruling bringing a sense of closure to some, while raising questions about mental health and the criminal justice system in Japan.