Three years on, mourners remember those lost in Osaka arson attack
- Hge News
- Dec 17, 2024
- 3 min read
Families, loved ones and those affected gathered Tuesday to offer prayers in front of a mental health clinic in Osaka’s Kita Ward, where an arson attack three years ago claimed 26 lives.
The incident occurred at 10:15 a.m. on Dec. 17, 2021, when Morio Tanimoto, a 61-year-old former patient, allegedly set fire to the clinic, killing its director, Kotaro Nishizawa, then 49, along with 25 patients and staff. Tanimoto also died several days after the incident from injuries sustained during the arson attack.
Osaka Prefectural Police referred Tanimoto on suspicion of murder in March 2022. However, as he was dead, Osaka prosecutors dropped the charges.
A woman in her 70s, who lost her son in the incident and has visited the site every year since, wept as she spoke. “I want to preserve the memories of the decades my son lived,” she said.
Recalling the days immediately after the attack, she added: “My life completely changed. I couldn’t sleep for eight months because of the shock. I cried more than I ever thought possible — enough tears for a lifetime.”
Nobuko Nishizawa, 47, the younger sister of the clinic’s director, also visited the site at around 8 a.m. She stood in front of the building, hands pressed together in prayer, and recited sutras for about 10 minutes.
One man, now in his 50s, had received treatment for depression at the clinic until just two weeks before the attack. In November of this year, he was able to finally reenter the workforce, vowing to continue Nishizawa’s legacy.
“I want to honor their wishes and carry on,” he said, reflecting on the lives lost.
The man’s ordeal began in August 2016 during a company training session that spanned 40 hours. He was told he was like a “rotten tangerine” and was pressured to quit, with supervisors verbally attacking his character.
The trauma from the incident triggered flashbacks, disrupted his sleep and robbed him of the ability to enjoy his hobbies, including reading.
Following the incident, the man sought treatment at Nishizawa’s clinic, making approximately 50 visits over five years. Nishizawa actively supported his labor dispute, allowing the man’s lawyer to accompany him during appointments — a request other clinics had refused.
“The clinic was always full, and they helped me in so many ways, not just with treatment. Dr. Nishizawa was a truly sincere person,” he said.
The man first learned of the arson attack through online news reports. “I couldn’t believe it. It didn’t make sense that such a horrific incident happened at the place I depended on,” he said.
In August 2020, the man joined other colleagues from the training session in filing a damages lawsuit against his employer at the Osaka District Court. His psychological issues were officially recognized as work-related in 2022, and a settlement was reached in November this year, paving the way for his return to work.
The decision to return to the same workplace was not easy. “I heard reports that one of the clinic’s patients who died was close to returning to work before the attack. I felt like that could have been me,” he explained.
While he struggles to think about the tragedy, he is determined to not let the victims’ memories fade.
“I don’t want to remember the incident, but at the same time, I feel it shouldn’t be forgotten,” he said.
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