Victims of 2001 fire in Tokyo’s Kabukicho remembered
Bereaved loved ones paid their respects at the site of the early-morning fire that claimed 44 lives 25 years ago.
Family members and others gathered Monday night to pay respects to the victims of a devastating fire that struck the vibrant Kabukicho district in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward 25 years ago. The blaze, which took place before dawn on September 1, 2001, claimed the lives of 44 people, leaving a community in mourning.
Onlookers were seen placing flowers at the exact location where the building that caught fire once stood. Yasuko Ueda, a 74-year-old woman, shared her emotions about the tragic event. Her daughters, Aiko, 26, and Saiko, 22, were among the 44 victims. Ueda laid flowers and presented 4,400 paper cranes she had crafted, praying for the souls of the deceased. She expressed her deep desire for people to remember the fire, even for a brief moment, as many individuals today are unaware of this historical tragedy.
The fire broke out on the third floor of a mahjong parlor and the fourth floor of a food-and-drink establishment. Those affected by the disaster were either customers or workers at these establishments. Their deaths were attributed to factors like carbon monoxide poisoning.
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