KYOTO — 2019 · Major Tragedy
Kyoto Animation Arson Attack
On 18 July 2019 a man entered Studio 1 of the renowned anime studio Kyoto Animation and set it ablaze with gasoline. Thirty-six employees died and dozens were injured, making it Japan's deadliest mass killing since 2001. The attacker claimed the studio had stolen a novel he submitted to a company contest. In January 2024 the Kyoto District Court ruled he had been criminally responsible at the time and sentenced him to death for murder and arson. The attack caused deep mourning in Japan and across the anime world.
- Date
- 2019
- Place
- Fushimi, Japan, Kyoto, JP
- Category
- Major Tragedy
- Case Status
- Solved
- Coordinates
- 34.9337, 135.7813 ↗
Timeline of Events
- 18 July 2019Kyoto Animation's studio was set on fire; 36 people died.
- May 2020The suspect, who survived severe burns, was arrested.
- September 2023Trial began at Kyoto District Court.
- 25 January 2024The defendant was sentenced to death.
- 28 January 2025The death sentence became final after the defendant withdrew his appeal.
Sources
- CNN — Kyoto Animation arson verdict cnn.com ↗
- Al Jazeera — Japan sentences man to death for Kyoto anime studio fire aljazeera.com ↗
- CNN
- Al Jazeera
- NPR
Source grade B: at least one verifiable linked source. If you spot a mistake or something missing, report it with "Suggest a correction" in the app.
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🕯️ This record was prepared with respect, in memory of those who lost their lives.