Five years before the murder of 19 people at a facility for people with intellectual disabilities in Sagamihara City, a memorial service was held at the facility rebuilt at the site.
A memorial monument was set up in the facility's square and engraved with the names of seven victims, including one who had already been announced.
On July 26, 2016, at the prefectural facility for people with intellectual disabilities "Tsukui Yamayurien" in Sagamihara City, the facility was rebuilt on the site five years before the murder of 19 people. A memorial service was held with about 40 people including bereaved families attending.
In addition, the "Monument of Requiescats" set up by the prefecture in the facility square was also released.
In this case, the police anonymously announced the victim as the intention of the bereaved family, and the trial was held anonymously except for "Miho-san," whose mother decided to announce it at the trial. The names of seven people, including Mr., were engraved.
It is engraved with an illustration of a golden-rayed lily flower on a flower stand installed in front of a water mirror that says "Living together".
Keiko Saito, who was 55 at the time.
The bereaved family decided to engrave their name to leave a proof that Keiko was alive.
Toshikazu Yamamoto, who was 49 at the time, loved Go.
A former employee who was in charge of Mr. Yamamoto at the facility for more than 10 years said, "Because I lost my beloved family, I may want to forget the incident, so I think that the family who carved their name was troubled. I want to continue the memorial service with my happy memories in my heart. "
Miho, who was 19 at the time.
The mother said, "If anyone visits me, I want them to come in contact with the name Miho and think that such a child was alive, and don't forget."
The prefecture will add a new name if the bereaved family wishes.
On the 20th, general flower offerings will be held from 1 pm to 5 pm, and anyone can visit after the 26th of this month.
Governor Kanagawa Kuroiwa "Still strong resentment and deep sadness"
At the memorial service, Governor Kuroiwa of Kanagawa Prefecture said, "Five years ago, a sudden assault killed 19 irreplaceable precious lives. I still cannot help but feel strong resentment and deep sorrow." So, "How self-righteous and wrong the idea that the criminal said,'Severely disabled people have no meaning to live'. To prove it, we are all like that person. We must realize a community where we can live. "
Background of the publication of the names of 19 people
In the case where 19 residents were killed at Tsukui Yamayurien, a facility for people with intellectual disabilities in Sagamihara City, police did not disclose the names of those who died due to the intention of the bereaved family.
Since the police have announced the names of victims of murders in principle, people involved in disability welfare have criticized "Isn't it discrimination to make people with disabilities anonymous?" It was.
At the beginning of the trial held last year, 19 people were called "Mr. A" and were to be tried.
Under these circumstances, the bereaved family of a woman who was 19 years old at the time of the incident announced her name under the woman at the time of the trial, and Miho's name was read aloud in court.
In a memorandum sent to NHK, her mother said, "Miho was alive hard. I want to leave a proof of that. She was a proud daughter who was not embarrassed wherever she went." I am.
On the other hand, the younger brother of a 60-year-old woman, who was called "Mr. Ko E" at the trial, offered to announce anonymously to the police and others immediately after the incident because of the pain.
Even so, he continued to worry, "Am I denying the existence of my sister?" To the point that "anonymizing victims with disabilities promotes discrimination."
Mr. Takeshi, the father of Mr. Kazuya Ono, who was seriously injured in the incident, gave his son's real name and responded to interviews and gave lectures in various places. I think, instead of blaming those people, I hope that the world will change by calling for understanding that obstacles are individuality and there is nothing embarrassing. "
Whether to engrave the victim's name Correspondence according to the wishes of the bereaved family
Five years after the incident, Kanagawa Prefecture decided to set up a monument to commemorate the victims in line with the reconstruction of the site "Tsukui Yamayurien", and announced the design in January. did.
At this time, the prefecture did not uniformly decide whether to engrave the victim's name on the monument, but decided to respond according to the wishes of the bereaved family.
After that, as a result of the prefecture confirming the intentions of each of the 19 bereaved families, seven names were engraved, including "Miho-san," whose mother announced the name below.
The flower stand also has a space for engraving the names of other victims, and the prefecture will add new names if the bereaved family wishes.
“Decision to engrave the name” Saito's bereaved family “Proof of being alive”
Keiko Saito was 55 years old at the time of the incident.
At the trial, he was called "Mr. Ko J".
The bereaved family decided to engrave their name this time because they wanted to leave a proof that Keiko was alive.
Keiko was a calm person who was always smiling, and she liked to pick up grass and leaves and turn them.
In the affidavit read at the trial, the younger brother said, "I could walk while holding my armpit, and if I gave him a spoon, I could raise and lower it myself. When I wanted to go to the bathroom Was slamming his belly. It was a special sign for our family, and although we couldn't communicate in words, we were able to communicate by movement, such as crumpling our face on the rice that my mother made. I did. "
A woman in her 70s, a former facility employee, said, "The appearance of picking up the grass and leaves on the side of the road and turning it made us feel at ease. I think there was an effort of. "
A former employee in her 40s said, "I don't speak much, but I often think I know what people are saying. There are months when my family can't come to visit the building. I walked to the entrance and stood. I was impressed because I was looking for a family member. "
Toshikazu Yamamoto's mother "My son was desperately alive"
Toshikazu Yamamoto was 49 years old at the time of the incident.
He was particularly active in the facility and loved learning Go on TV and books.
A former employee who was in charge of Mr. Yamamoto at the facility for more than 10 years said, "I remember sitting on the bed and watching a Go program on TV with a face like a game master. I just lost my beloved family. I think my family was worried about the fact that I would like to forget about the incident, so I would like to continue the memorial service with the happy memories I spent with Mr. Yamamoto and others. "
In a statement read at a trial held last year, the mother said, "My son liked playing Go and going out with his husband. He likes gratin and smiles nicely when he eats gratin at a coffee shop. I also liked to get in the car, and when I was traveling with my husband, I was happy to get in the passenger seat and check the safety and praise him. "
And when I called the facility on my birthday and asked, "Congratulations, how old are you?", He replied, "I'm 49 years old." My son was desperately alive. I was happy just because he was alive. "