Month-long release of Kyoto arson victims' identities ends

Unless there is some danger posed by not releasing victims' names, the wishes of the bereaved families are most important and should be honored.

Hopefully the investigation will be a follow up to bring a real closure to this tragedy, with Aoba testifying after he recovers. Maybe when he allows so, police will release the arsonist's novels/ideas for people to compare them to what might have been a stolen work.

It's weird. Not sure the public has a "right" to know the names.

 tried to negotiate consent with grieving family members.

Negotiate consent? Why negotiate? When family members say "no" its "No!". What good does it do to release the names after a month anyway. Instead tell us more how the assailant will be punished.

I'm not sure how I feel about the names of crime victims being made public against the wishes of their families, but I do wish Kyodo (and JapanToday) would refrain from publicising the perp's name at every opportunity.

I'm not sure why the families didn't want the names released. After all, they were the victims in all this and are totally blameless.

There is a certainly is public interest in releasing the names, but I wouldn't call it a right. There may be people who know the victims, but may not be part of the circle of friends and family that are in regular communication. How will they know?

Japanese media have the reputation to horde at people involved in crime : victim, perpetrator, families, coworker, neighbor, ...

If the release of name bring a crowd to bereaved family just there to make head line, asking shitty question ... I do not see the point of releasing the name. If the aim is to make a tribute to the victim and never bother the family, it is matter of discussion.

Japanese media have the reputation to horde at people involved in crime : victim, perpetrator, families, coworker, neighbor, ...

Maybe the families don't want the media asking stupijd questions such as "how do you feel?"

I'm torn, to be honest. I understand the families' desire for privacy to mourn, but I also understand the desire of fans of the animators to know if a person they admired is alive or dead. Especially the more we'll known directors and animators, as artists like that absolutely have an impact on people.

Maybe the families don't want the media asking stupid questions such as "how do you feel?"

That is most likely not the worse they can come up with. So as long as there is media harassing family and so on, Police should not discuss the issue of release name. The bereaved say no, it is no. Police are there to protect people not the income of media.