Disaster Kyoto Animation studio set on fire - 35 Dead, Many Injured

https://english.kyodonews.net/news/...-man-sprays-liquid-at-kyoto-anime-studio.html

A man started a fire at a Kyoto animation studio after spraying a liquid there Thursday morning, leaving nearly 40 people injured, several of them unconscious, and one person feared dead, local police and rescuers said.

The fire started around 10:30 a.m. at a three-story studio of Kyoto Animation Co., a company known for producing popular TV animation series "K-On!!" and "The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya" (Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu).

The man believed to have set the fire, apparently in his 40s, was among the injured and has been taken to a hospital.

This appears to still be ongoing and details are pretty sparse between any article covering it in english at least. This seems like a very unique case though, in that I don't think there is any precedent for this kind of thing at all.

10+ dead at this point.
View attachment 846932
According to Kyoto Police and fire department, one person died on first floor.
12 more cardiac arrest (dead).
36 more injured, 10 severe, 6 moderate, 20 meh.

View attachment 847467
Locations and Bodycounts based on areas of the building. The 19 on the staircase on the third floor are pretty much stacked on eachother as they tried to make a rush to the roof, but appearantly the door only opens from the outside (suicide prevention) or was a pull door.

How can I support?

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There is no clear indication of where the funds are headed as of yet, other than that they will be on hold until they can coordinate a distribution method.

京アニショップ！ダウンロード販売専用サイト

京都アニメーション製作オリジナルグッズのダウンロードショップです！

kyoani.shop-pro.jp

This is a direct link to the KyoAni shop. A Twitter user has provided a guide for creating an account and making purchases.

https://twitter.com/gokunobaka/status/1151813889362989056

Goku(꒪ཀ꒪)ごみ~歴史戍る! on Twitter: "Here's a crappy picture guide, hope it…

archived 19 Jul 2019 00:57:26 UTC

archive.li

Goku(꒪ཀ꒪)ごみ~歴史戍る! on Twitter: "Thanks for the notification about thei…

archived 19 Jul 2019 00:59:03 UTC

archive.li

Who?: 青葉真司 AOBA, Shinji. 41, unemployed. He was not an employee at any point. He had a prior arrest in 2012 for robbing a convenience of 20,000 yen and was in jail for 3.5 years. In 2016 he was released and lived in a rehabilitation facility before moving to a single apartment somewhere in Saitama. In March and August of 2018 police went to his apartment over Noise Complaints. July 14 days prior to the incident he had grabbed and threatened to kill a neighbor after they complained about noise, police were called again. He was spotted the day before the incident within the area of the studio laying on park benches.

How?:He brought 40 liters of Gasoline between 2 tanks, a BBQ lighter, and a bag with knives and a hammer. He used a pushcart to transport everything to a nearby area. Poured the gasoline at the entrance by the spiral staircase, which funneled the fire and smoke upwards at a rapid rate. He himself was caught in the fire. Due to an event being held that day, the security system which used ID cards had been disabled that day for a guest event, allowing him entrance.

Why?: Currently the theories are taken from statements that have been connected to him prior on 2ch/annel, and something he said while arrested.
1; Music/A song he may have claimed ownership too was used in Sound! Euphonium
2; He was a Railfan that had snapped over wrappings on a train "dirtying" it (This is being disputed by news stations)
3; Possibly another undetermined claim of them "ripping him off". Now claimed to be over a novel he had written, which was "plagiarized" by KyoAni. This is the prevailing theory as of yet due to his statements to the police
4; His waifu he shipped with another girl was confirmed to not be gay, got a boyfriend or was interested in one, and is not "pure" anymore

How many people were injured or killed?: 35 Confirmed Dead, 33 others injured, with 8 of them in critical condition. 6 Escaped unharmed.
Police say 74 people were in the building at the time of the attack. Some of which were guests from an outside studio attending an event.

Who died? (this may partly be speculation, its built off of people not being accounted for):
-Takemoto Yasuhiro
-Kawanami Eisaku
-Nishiya Futoshi
-Ishida Naomi
-Tsuda Yukie
-Ono Megumi

Here's a newer article with a more detailed explanation of the situation

KYOTO--Thirty-three people were killed and 17 others remain hospitalized after a suspected arsonist set fire to a three-story animation studio here on July 18, police and fire department officials said.

Some of the 36 people injured in the fire were unconscious, according to Kyoto prefectural police.

The studio, operated by Kyoto Animation Co., is located in a residential area in Kyoto’s Fushimi Ward about 100 meters north of Rokujizo Station on Keihan Electric Railway Co.’s Uji Line. There were about 70 people in the studio at the time.

Several neighbors called the fire department around 10:35 a.m. after they heard an explosion and saw smoke rising from the building. Thirty-five firetrucks were dispatched to the scene.

Police detained a 41-year-old man who is believed to have spread a flammable liquid in the area. Witnesses said he ran into the building screaming, “Die.”

He was injured in the incident and remains unconcious at a hospital.

A 61-year-old woman in the neighborhood said she initially mistook the suspect for a victim of the blaze.

She said she opened the front entrance to her home after the interphone sounded and found a large man kneeling on the ground. Both of his arms had burns and his right leg was on fire. His hair appeared singed.

The woman asked the weakened man if he was all right, but he did not respond. She used a hose to pour water on the man.

As she waited for an ambulance, a number of police officers surrounded the man and peppered him with questions about how he entered the studio and why he set it on fire, she said.

The woman said she could not catch much of what the man said, but she did clearly hear him shout, “They ripped me off.”

A woman in her 20s who works nearby said she went outside after hearing the explosion around 10:30 a.m. When she approached the burning building, she saw a man apparently in his 20s trying to escape along a support on the outer wall on the second story.

The woman and a co-worker brought a ladder to the building to help the man reach the ground.

The head of a local taxi company’s branch near the site said two men ran into the office around 10:40 a.m. and asked that the fire department be called.

One of the men was assisting the other, whose clothes were badly burned. The branch chief tried to support the two while they waited for an ambulance to arrive.

A 22-year-old man said he heard two or three explosions and saw black smoke emerging from a first-floor window. He said flames could be seen in many of the building’s windows.

Kyoto Animation has produced a number of popular TV anime series, such as “K-On!,” “The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya” and “Sound! Euphonium.”

Although many major animation companies are located in the Tokyo area, Kyoto Animation has kept its base of operations in the ancient capital since its founding in 1981 because the city has accumulated a long cultural history, company officials said.

Much of the work on the company’s TV programs and movies is done in Kyoto.

Sources-
http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201907190042.html
http://archive.fo/WZ1Ed
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20190719/p2a/00m/0na/003000c
http://archive.fo/zr1gf
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/...-repeatedly-caused-trouble-for-neighbors.html
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190719_32/
http://archive.fo/qNZ6l

Edit: Cleaned formatting, additional information, trying to identify what is speculated, spelling/grammar.
Edit: Added information, added sources, archived sources.

 

[HTTP Error 404]

Windows couldn't be opened, lot of the interior was wood, and the roof exit door I keep hearing conflicting things about. One source said the roof door was pullable but another said it was locked either way both aren't good, emergency exits should be push not pull. Sounded like a possible disaster waiting to happen just because of how the building was set up, even a accidental fire could have got out of hand. Where I live all of this wouldn't fly with the fire marshal.

I find it unlikely to the point of outright X to Doubt that 20 people got into the stairway and died in front of the door to the roof without said door having fuckery going on. Yes, there's a chance they all slammed into the door at the same time and died because no one would take a few steps back to let the guy in front open the pull door, I guess.

I had heard that the fire marshal "confirmed the door was working" by opening it from the roof side. Well, that doesn't mean it opened from the stairwell side, does it?

From the Japanese articles I read, it was unlocked but was made to only be able to opened from the outside after some incidents of employees apparently throwing cigarette butts off the edge of the building.

I also wouldn't put it past people to not make that shit public, because the idea of 20 people dying in front of a locked safety door would... probably force changes a lot of people don't want to deal with.

The pullable door makes sense because it is a stairwell. With the exception of a ground floor heavily sprung door, typically with a slap bar, door leading into stairwell open into the stairwell. The reason being the air pressure in the stairwell is supposed to be slightly higher than the building, as a major element of fire safety. The higher air pressure prevents the fire from flowing into and up the stairwell as a chimney, and keeps a clean(Er) column of air through which people can evacuate.

I read in an article that the stairwell was NOT pressurized.

 

[RodgerDodger]

I read in an article that the stairwell was NOT pressurized.

From what I understand, you are correct. But still common design is stairwell doors open inwards.

 

[Carnavoyeur]

I find it unlikely to the point of outright X to Doubt that 20 people got into the stairway and died in front of the door to the roof without said door having fuckery going on. Yes, there's a chance they all slammed into the door at the same time and died because no one would take a few steps back to let the guy in front open the pull door, I guess.

Look up human stampedes/crush accidents. This happens a lot with fires in smaller buildings. For example, out of the 100 people who died in the Station nightclub fire in 2003, 31 died at the entrance because everyone rushed to use it as an exit. Eventually the entrance couldn't be used as an exit because it was literally blocked with piles of bodies.

 

[Drunk and Pour]

From the Japanese articles I read, it was unlocked but was made to only be able to opened from the outside after some incidents of employees apparently throwing cigarette butts off the edge of the building.

"Johnson, keep this door locked. We don't want anybody accidently catching this building on fire with their used cigarette butts".

 

[Neil]

Not sure if I'm late again, but according to Mombot, the NHK has released the name of the arsonist.

Twitter / Account Suspended

From breaking news and entertainment to sports and politics, get the full story with all the live commentary.

twitter.com

Shinji Aoba.
And, for effect, let me repost his image once more.

Shinji Aoba.

Spoiler: Additional Childhood photos

アニメ会社放火 確保の男 ゲームのような音楽で騒音トラブル | NHKニュース

18日、京都市の「京都アニメーション」のスタジオが放火され33人が死亡した事件で、現場で確保された青葉真司容疑者（41）…

www3.nhk.or.jp

What's worse, is that, according to this article, Aoba is a psychiatric patient. So, by the Japanese legal code, he cannot hang, as he is legally insane.

Edit #3: His motive was that he falsely believed that "Sound! Euphonium" stole his idea.

 

[ProfDongs]

Edit #3: His motive was that he falsely believed that "Sound! Euphonium" stole his idea.
View attachment 851046

Most of this has been known, he's still in a coma last I've seen though and his only statements anyone got out of him regarding motive was a vague thing of him "being ripped off".

 

[HTTP Error 404]

Official Statement from KyoAni

京都アニメーションホームページ

京都アニメーションホームページへようこそ。アニメ作品情報、オリジナルグッズなどの情報満載です。スタッフコンテンツもお楽しみに！

www.kyotoanimation.co.jp

7月18日に発生した事件について - 新着情報 | 京都アニメーションホームページ

アーカイブされた 2019年7月21日 10:08:40 UTC

archive.fo

Translation from reddit

As a result of the appalling incident that occurred at 10:30am on the 18th of July 2019 (The first year of the Reiwa era), many of our staff, including many promising youngsters have been injured, and some have even lost their lives.
With their passion for creating animation, our young staff,who gathered from all around the country (Japan), along with veteran staff who have worked with with us over many years.
It's impossible to find the right words to express. For their futures to be cut off in such a way is heartbreaking and truly regrettable. They were truly incredible, talented, much loved colleagues and friends. This is a devastating blow to both us (Kyoto Animation), and to the (Animation) industry.
The details of this incident, are exactly as the Fushimi Ward Police have reported. We have nothing else to add at this time.
At present, we are working tirelessly, with the injured and their families, as well as with the families of those who lost their lives, doing everything within our power to help them through these hard times.
Furthermore, we humbly ask that the media direct any queries or requests for information to our legal partners described below. For the time being, we humbly request that the media refrain from contacting us directly.
---
NAME: Okeda Daisuke
COMPANY: Ushinakizaka Law firm
EMAIL: dokeda@kimuralaw.jp
TEL: +81 80-4483-1136
ADDRESS: 〒536-0023 東京都港区赤坂4-7-15 赤坂丹後ビル4階

 

[JustStopDude]

Even if he was not insane, it would be very difficult to get successful prosecution for this crime.

It would be like trying to convict someone doing the same thing to a furry convention in the US. Or perhaps a crackhouse.

Anime is barely tolerated in Japan. It is seen as degenerecy and a cause of many social problems.

 

[AltisticRight]

Even if he was not insane, it would be very difficult to get successful prosecution for this crime.

It would be like trying to convict someone doing the same thing to a furry convention in the US. Or perhaps a crackhouse.

Anime is barely tolerated in Japan. It is seen as degenerecy and a cause of many social problems.

Right, it's degenerate so just firebomb the place?
Kyoani's stuff from what I've heard from those weebs I know are hardly degenerate. It's not like those hentai crap featuring minors and incest.

Whenever a heinous crime like this happens it's natural for internet users to call for violent retribution. But it really is against a civil society and humanity itself to do such things. The State or any private individuals should never be allowed to do what basically amounts to torture and war crimes. I think the death penalty is enough. Calling for torture or the like does nothing for society or the victims and has little deterrent effect against the mentally ill.

I would agree, and I think the law should be about delivering justice and reformation, but there's a threshold. Killing 34 people for allegedly plagiarism or fucking gayass trains or virgin cartoon waifu crosses it.
When stuff like this occurs, I just want to see the criminal tortured to a point of wishing the bullet. I also wouldn't mind if proven paedophiles, their sympathisers, and child molesters are tortured. Waterboarding is too soft core. Maybe cover them with hot boiling cheese and then toss them into Antarctica.

 

[Varg Did Nothing Wrong]

Even if he was not insane, it would be very difficult to get successful prosecution for this crime.

It would be like trying to convict someone doing the same thing to a furry convention in the US. Or perhaps a crackhouse.

Anime is barely tolerated in Japan. It is seen as degenerecy and a cause of many social problems.

Do you honestly think that if someone firebombed a furry convention, causing 30 deaths, that any country in the civilized world wouldn't find the defendant guilty?

Are you fucking stupid?

 

[FuckedUp]

Do you honestly think that if someone firebombed a furry convention, causing 30 deaths, that any country in the civilized world wouldn't find the defendant guilty?

Are you fucking stupid?

I bet he wishes it worked that way.

 

[Saria Shiyomi]

Small update:

京アニ放火、現場に約1メートルのハンマー ｜ 共同通信

京都市伏見区のアニメスタジオ放火殺人事件で、現場に青葉真司容疑者（41）のものとみられる長さ約1メー...

this.kiji.is

Investigators have found a 1 meter long hammer that seems to be the arsonist's.

It seems to me that he was going to break a window to access the building if he couldn't get through the entrance. Maybe plan A if he didn't know about the security system being down, or plan B if he knew about it but didn't want to risk not gaining access to the building.

 

[HTTP Error 404]

Kyoani's stuff from what I've heard from those weebs I know are hardly degenerate. It's not like those hentai crap featuring minors and incest.

I think the most degenerate thing KyoAni has done so far as a series about a Computer Programmer raising an adopted daughter with her Lesbian Roommate.

 

[Judge Holden]

Most of this has been known, he's still in a coma last I've seen though and his only statements anyone got out of him regarding motive was a vague thing of him "being ripped off".

Uh oh, comas and anime autism have a bad history together...

 

[YW 525]

Why didn't anyone grab a piece of furniture, use it as a battering ram, knock out one of the windows and jump?

Just like the windows that don't open from the inside and the doors that are locked to prevent fires, I'm sure the furniture in this building was inexplicably bolted to the floor to satisfy some bullshit imperial mandate from the 19th century.

 

[JustStopDude]

Right, it's degenerate so just firebomb the place?
Kyoani's stuff from what I've heard from those weebs I know are hardly degenerate. It's not like those hentai crap featuring minors and incest.

This is not what I said. I am not encouraging hurting people or banning artistic work. I am merely sharing my experience living and working in Japan. Anime is associated with otaku.

Adults who are into anime are look down upon in Japanese society. Furthermore, anime is seen as a corrupting influence on children. This is why after every otaku killing, talks occur in the Diet to possibly ban anime.

Many people in the west assume all of Tokyo is what they see in anime and all of Japan is Tokyo. Neither is true.

Anime is about as socially acceptable as pornography. It exists. It's easy enough to find. The people involved however are socially shunned.

 

[Sīn the Moon Daddy]

Just like the windows that don't open from the inside and the doors that are locked to prevent fires, I'm sure the furniture in this building was inexplicably bolted to the floor to satisfy some bullshit imperial mandate from the 19th century.

Remember how they were sealing off emergency exits and windows at the Christchurch mosque in the months leading up to the shooting?

Probably not the same thing here. This is a very old building so the disaster might not have been intentional

 

[LocalFireDept]

This is not what I said. I am not encouraging hurting people or banning artistic work. I am merely sharing my experience living and working in Japan. Anime is associated with otaku.

Adults who are into anime are look down upon in Japanese society. Furthermore, anime is seen as a corrupting influence on children. This is why after every otaku killing, talks occur in the Diet to possibly ban anime.

Many people in the west assume all of Tokyo is what they see in anime and all of Japan is Tokyo. Neither is true.

Anime is about as socially acceptable as pornography. It exists. It's easy enough to find. The people involved however are socially shunned.

They were still human beings who were murdered in an incredibly painful way, you sociopathic turbo-sped. Anime being """degenerate""" doesn't change that fact.

 

[School of Fish]

Even if he was not insane, it would be very difficult to get successful prosecution for this crime.

It would be like trying to convict someone doing the same thing to a furry convention in the US. Or perhaps a crackhouse.

Anime is barely tolerated in Japan. It is seen as degenerecy and a cause of many social problems.

This is not what I said. I am not encouraging hurting people or banning artistic work. I am merely sharing my experience living and working in Japan. Anime is associated with otaku.

Adults who are into anime are look down upon in Japanese society. Furthermore, anime is seen as a corrupting influence on children. This is why after every otaku killing, talks occur in the Diet to possibly ban anime.

Many people in the west assume all of Tokyo is what they see in anime and all of Japan is Tokyo. Neither is true.

Anime is about as socially acceptable as pornography. It exists. It's easy enough to find. The people involved however are socially shunned.

I'm just going to post this here.

 

[Jewelsmakerguy]

This is not what I said. I am not encouraging hurting people or banning artistic work. I am merely sharing my experience living and working in Japan. Anime is associated with otaku.

Adults who are into anime are look down upon in Japanese society. Furthermore, anime is seen as a corrupting influence on children. This is why after every otaku killing, talks occur in the Diet to possibly ban anime.

Many people in the west assume all of Tokyo is what they see in anime and all of Japan is Tokyo. Neither is true.

Anime is about as socially acceptable as pornography. It exists. It's easy enough to find. The people involved however are socially shunned.

I don't think that fucking matters right now. People died and "lol, anime is for degenerates because the person who committed the crime was a degenerate" is not something you should be saying. Let alone in a thread about one of the worst tragedies in Japan since WWII.

Just heed the advice of your usernamesake and just stop, dude. You're not going to win anyone over.