In a tragic chapter that shook Japan in 2019, a man has been sentenced to death for the devastating arson attack on a three-story animation studio in Kyoto, claiming the lives of 36 individuals.

The convicted individual, Shinji Aoba, harbored deep-seated animosity towards Kyoto Animation, affectionately known as KyoAni, alleging that the studio had wrongfully appropriated ideas from novels he had submitted to one of their competitions. However, the court found no substantiated evidence supporting Aoba’s claims of plagiarism.

The renowned 35-year-old studio, founded by the talented duo Yoko and Hideaki Hatta, was celebrated for its iconic works like “The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya,” “Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid,” and “Violet Evergarden.”

On that fateful day of July 18, 2019, Aoba forcibly entered the studio premises, dousing the area with gasoline while unleashing his grievances upon the employees. With a flick of a lighter, he ignited the flames that swiftly engulfed the building, resulting in the tragic loss of 36 lives, many of whom were budding animators trapped on the upper floors, with an additional 34 individuals sustaining injuries.

Despite suffering severe burns himself, Aoba underwent extensive medical treatment before being apprehended by Kyoto police. The heinous act marked one of Japan’s darkest moments, leaving an indelible impact on the nation.

During the trial, Aoba’s defense argued for acquittal or a reduced sentence based on his alleged diminished mental capacity. However, the presiding Judge Keisuke Masuda deemed Aoba culpable for his actions, asserting that he was of sound mind when he committed the crime. Given the gravity of the offense and the loss of 36 lives, Judge Masuda ruled that there was no justification to spare Aoba from the death penalty.

This ruling adds Aoba to the list of approximately 100 individuals awaiting execution in Japan, underscoring the gravity with which the country addresses such egregious crimes.