The deadliest building fire in Japan since 2001 and the deadliest massacre since World War II, killing 36 people at an anime studio.
Key Facts
- Deaths
- 36
- Injured
- 34 (including suspect)
- Gasoline used
- 40 litres
- Suspect sentenced
- Death sentence, 25 January 2024
- Donations raised (Japan)
- Over ¥3.3 billion
- International donations
- Over US$2.3 million
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Shinji Aoba, a 42-year-old man with no affiliation to Kyoto Animation, carried approximately 40 litres of gasoline to Studio 1 in the Fushimi ward of Kyoto. Witnesses reported he accused the studio of plagiarism before committing the act, suggesting a personal grievance, though no verified plagiarism claim was ever substantiated.
On the morning of 18 July 2019, Aoba entered Studio 1 through the front door, doused the interior and several employees with gasoline, and ignited it. The resulting fire killed 36 people, injured 34 others, and destroyed most of the building's materials and computers. Aoba, who set himself alight in the process, fled but was apprehended by police about 100 metres away.
Aoba was arrested in May 2020 after recovering from severe burns, formally indicted in December 2020, pleaded guilty in September 2023, and was sentenced to death in January 2024. Fans and businesses donated over ¥3.3 billion domestically and US$2.3 million internationally for studio recovery. The National Diet passed a special measure granting tax-exempt status to those donations, while several studio projects were delayed or cancelled.