Tokyo's Akihabara district on Monday marked the 12th anniversary of a stabbing rampage that killed seven and injured 10 others.
Passersby placed flowers and offered prayers at the area where Tomohiro Kato, a 37-year-old former temp worker now on death row, mowed down pedestrians in a vehicle-free zone with a truck and randomly stabbed passers-by with a knife at around 12:30 p.m. on June 8, 2008.
Kato's death sentence was finalized in February 2015. The Supreme Court said in its ruling that he was motivated by rage after being harassed on an internet forum he had become engrossed in.
Kato said he had scouted the location before the rampage and confirmed that it would be packed with people. Akihabara, once known mainly as an electronics mecca, is now better known for attracting fans of manga and anime.
© Japan Today/Kyodo
14 Comments
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darknuts
So Cyber-bullying was the cause?
Reckless
I can't believe it was that long ago.
expat
What has the government done since then to reduce the chances of it happening again?
Mirai Hayashi
Why does it take 7 years to finalize a sentence?
bobcatfish
So he was a victim
Fighto!
RIP to the 7 innocent victims. Hard to believe this was 12 years ago.
The sooner this cold, calculated evil killer is hung, the sooner the victims families can put this coward behind them, and and try and move on.
browny1
Fighto!Today 07:03 pm JST
RIP to the 7 innocent victims. Hard to believe this was 12 years ago.
The sooner this cold, calculated evil killer is hung, the sooner the victims families can put this coward behind them, and and try and move on.
I doubt very much that the execution of Kato will do much to "put this coward behind them and try to move on".
Their loved ones were horrifically murdered and sadly the pain will more than likely never be erased.
Killing the killer won't bring them back.
He needs to pay for his despicable actions every day of his life through work, reflection and asking for forgiveness - everyday for 10, 20, 30 ,40 + years.
Death will enable him to escape the nightmare of his creation.
From studies, rarely do the direct victims families feel consoled after the execution of a murderer.
Outsiders looking on, think it does, probably because it fulfills their sense of revenge and justice.
Fighto!
True. The scores of family and loved ones of the victims will never enjoy life as they did before. For many, their lives are effectively ended, too.
But execution of this horrible killer - as the legal system has declared in finality - is the only punishment appropriate. The sooner the better. We have to respect and accept the Japanese legal system.
doggar
Fighto we have to respect the japanese legal system when 99% of those charged are convicted? Yes that makes a lot of sense.
Victor
The fact that they still commemorate this shows how rare violent crimes are in Japan as opposed to some other so called developed countries.
AlexBecu
Quote "he was motivated by rage after being harassed on an internet forum"
This is why we need to pass laws against this type of bullying and harassment.
Education in schools should be made mandatory on social media dangers and online bullying for the new generation.
Kentarogaijin
GOOD !!..
TrevorPeace
@Reckless, what I can't believe is that he's still on death row and they keep feeding him.
John Franklin
It would be interesting to know what sort of harassment he faced online.