Student who met Sagamihara killer seeks lessons from mass stabbing
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Kazuaki was a second-year junior high school student when he sat across an acrylic partition from Satoshi Uematsu, the man accused of
In July 2016, a devastating mass stabbing occurred outside Tokyo, killing 19 people with intellectual disabilities and injuring 26 others. The perpetrator, Satoshi Uematsu, was a former employee at a care home called Tsukui Yamayuri En in Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture. Uematsu, then 36, was accused of the killings and later sentenced to death.
Kazuaki, a 21-year-old university student in Tokyo, was a second-year junior high school student when he met Uematsu in detention. Uematsu, described as small, softly spoken, and polite, frequented Kazuaki's visits, lasting no more than 30 minutes each, over an 18-month period. During these visits, Uematsu expressed his belief that people with disabilities were burdens on society and suggested euthanasia as a solution.
Uematsu's fascination with appearance was evident, as he had undergone cosmetic surgery on his eyes and nose and dyed his hair blonde, citing Donald Trump as an influence. Despite his outward success, Uematsu struggled with low self-esteem, seeking recognition and approval from others.
When asked about his actions, Uematsu's responses were mechanical, reflecting his eugenic views. Kazuaki found the reasoning behind his actions absurd and illogical. After Uematsu's trial, Kazuaki continued to visit Tsukui Yamayuri En annually on the anniversary of the attack, laying flowers and connecting with people with disabilities.
He expressed concern that the broader societal issues raised by the case are being overlooked. Kazuaki hopes the case will inspire reflection among younger generations to address discrimination and isolation.
Written by urgent.news from The Mainichi's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
