KYOTO, JAPAN – A man who caused a devastating fire at an animation studio located in Kyoto, Japan, in 2019 has been handed a death sentence. Shinji Aoba demonstrated no signs of remorse for the violent incident, which resulted in the deaths of 36 people. Most of the deceased victims were young artists, and dozens more victims were also injured.
In the court proceedings, Aoba’s defenders had asked for leniency on the grounds of a claimed “mental incompetence.” The court overruled these appeals, stating that Aoba was fully aware of the consequences of his sinister act.
In his ruling, Chief Judge Masuda asserted that Aoba was fully mentally competent during the commission of the crime. He added that the death and dread induced by the attack on the young victims was immensely tragic and painful.
The majority of the animation studio’s young artists were trapped on the building’s upper floors and perished as the fire swiftly consumed the building. The tragic event ranks as one of the most deadly in Japan’s recent history, triggering widespread grief.
Aoba harbored a misplaced belief that the studio had stolen his work, which incited him to execute the deadly attack. He accused Kyoto Animation, known colloquially as KyoAni, of plagiarizing a novel he submitted for a company contest.
In his violent attack in 2019, Aoba stormed the studio, dousing the ground floor with gasoline, and ignited a lethal blaze. During his fiery assault, witnesses recall him repeatedly shouting, “Drop dead.”
During his guilty plea in 2023, Aoba expressed regret, claiming he had not envisioned the high death toll his actions incited. He further stated that he felt racked with guilt and remorse.
However, Aoba also fell victim to his excesses in the incident, suffering severe burns across 90% of his body. He was apprehended following his recovery from extensive medical treatment in the aftermath of the fire.
As is common in Japan for serious crimes like multiple murders, capital punishment is enforced. Those found guilty often wait for the execution of their sentence on death row for several years or even decades.