Danica Davidson
July 25, 2024 
The Kyoto Animation arson took place five years ago, on July 12, 2019. 36 people were killed, and many others were injured. A memorial monument has been publicly unveiled to honor the victims.
Rather than set up the monument on the site of the old studio, it is at the nearby Tea and Uji History Park. The sculpture is just under 10 feet tall, and shows 36 flying birds, one to symbolize each person who was killed.
The monument additionally has inscriptions that say “Passing dreams and passion from one person to the next,” as well as “Limitless dreams, told through animation. In every line drawn, years of cultivated talent and profound sentiment. From here in Uji, Kyoto, they spread out into the world, taking wing toward our uninterrupted future.” You can see the monument in this video.
There was a dedication ceremony for it on July 14, two days after the anniversary. Some family members of the Kyoto Animation arson victims were there, with almost one hundred people in total.
The public is welcome to visit the monument, but while they might want to leave offerings like flowers, Kyoto Animation has actually asked people not to do so. SoraNews24 suggested Kyoto Animation may have asked this because they don’t want people and things getting in the way of locals living their lives.
Earlier this year Shinji Aoba, who had confessed to the Kyoto Animation arson, was officially found guilty and received the death penalty.
At last year’s memorial event, President of Kyoto Animation Hideaki Hatta remarked, “Losing our friends and colleagues was absolutely unbearable. What we can do is to keep creating works. And we’ll stick to our culture of working hard together.”
Titles created by Kyoto Animation include Violet Evergarden, K-On!, A Silent Voice, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Liz and the Bluebird, Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid, Lucky Star, Free!, and Sound! Euphonium.
Source: SoraNews24
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Danica Davidson is the author of the bestselling Manga Art for Beginners with artist Melanie Westin, plus its sequel, Manga Art for Everyone, and the first-of-its-kind manga chalk book Chalk Art Manga, both illustrated by professional Japanese mangaka Rena Saiya. Check out her other comics and books at www.danicadavidson.com.
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