Kyoto Animation arsonist’s death sentence finalised, execution to proceed-OxBig News Network

A woman prays in front of a row of flowers placed for victims of the torched Kyoto Animation building in Kyoto, Japan, July 20, 2019.
| Photo Credit: KIM KYUNG-HOON

The death sentence for Shinji Aoba, the man responsible for the deadly 2019 arson attack on Kyoto Animation, has been finalised after he withdrew his appeal, Japan’s Osaka High Court confirmed on Tuesday. The ruling brings a sense of closure to one of the most devastating crimes in the country’s modern history.

Aoba, 46, was convicted of murder and other charges in January 2024 for setting fire to Kyoto Animation’s Studio 1, resulting in the deaths of 36 people and injuring 32 others. The Kyoto District Court determined that despite suffering from a delusional disorder, Aoba was mentally competent to be held criminally responsible for his actions. Initially, his defense team appealed the ruling, arguing that his mental state warranted a lesser sentence. However, Aoba retracted the appeal on Monday, effectively sealing his fate.

Smoke billows from a three-story building of Kyoto Animation in a fire in Kyoto, western Japan, July 18, 2019.

While Aoba has expressed remorse in court, many bereaved families remain unconvinced. The grandfather of Megumu Ono, one of the young animators killed in the fire, admitted to feeling a small sense of relief but stated that Aoba’s words did not amount to a true apology. Other relatives continue to grapple with their grief and anger, questioning why the perpetrator still lives while they mourn their loved ones daily.

The attack, one of Japan’s worst mass murders, shocked the nation and the global anime community. Kyoto Animation, renowned for works such as The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, K-On!, and Clannad, suffered significant losses but has since continued its legacy. Following the tragedy, supporters worldwide raised funds to aid the studio’s recovery.

With the finalization of Aoba’s sentence, his execution is now set to proceed, though an exact date remains undisclosed.