Key PointsA man has been convicted and sentenced to demise for a 2019 arson assault in Japan.Thirty-six folks died throughout the assault on the Kyoto animation studio and greater than 30 had been injured.Japan is the one G7 nation apart from the US that also has the demise penalty.
A Japanese man was convicted and sentenced to demise on Thursday for the arson and killing of 36 folks at famed anime studio Kyoto Animation in 2019, public broadcaster NHK mentioned.
The lethal assault on the Kyoto-based studio, higher generally known as KyoAni, had despatched shock waves not solely by way of Japan the place violent crime is uncommon, but in addition abroad given the studio’s far-reaching fan base and the audacity of the crime.
Shinji Aoba, now 45, had set the studio ablaze by dousing the doorway space of the constructing with petrol, additionally injuring 32.
Aoba himself suffered heavy burns and underwent intensive therapy for practically a yr.
Mourners on the web site of Kyoto Animation Co. in Kyoto on 19 July 2019. Supply: AP / Hirohito Nomoto
Media have reported that Aoba held a grudge towards the studio, identified for the sequence Violet Evergarden and different fashionable works, believing that it had plagiarised his novel, an allegation that KyoAni has denied.
A pillar of Japanese popular culture, anime has develop into a serious cultural export, profitable followers world wide.
The incident prompted condolences from world leaders and enterprise executives corresponding to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Apple chief government Tim Prepare dinner.
Japan and the USA are the one Group of Seven (G7) nations that perform capital punishment.