Victims of Sagamihara Care Home Attack Remembered 10 Years On

Sagamihara, Kanagawa Pref., July 25 (Jiji Press)--A memorial ceremony was held Saturday to remember the 19 victims of the 2016 mass stabbing at a care home for people with disabilities in Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture, south of Tokyo, a day before the 10th anniversary of the incident.

The ceremony was previously held at the Tsukui Yamayuri-en care home, but this year, it took place at a larger venue in Sagamihara to attract more attendees, according to the prefectural government, one of the organizers of the event. Kanagawa Governor Yuji Kuroiwa, bereaved family members and others connected with the facility took part.

The podium was decorated with 19 colorful "yamayuri" golden-rayed lilies made of "origami" paper by residents of the care home and others, along with white flowers.

"The deep sorrow remains even after 10 long years," said Kiyomitsu Nagai, 56, head of the facility, in a memorial speech. "I am truly grateful to have known you all and lived in the same era," he said of the victims.

Beside Nagai, Masanao Shimada, 56, chairman of an association of the facility's residents, responded with words of affirmation.

[Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]