September 1 marks 21 years since the building fire in Kabukicho, Tokyo, in which 44 people died.
On the night of the 31st, the bereaved family visited the site of the building and laid flowers to mourn the victims.
In the early hours of September 1, 2001, a fire broke out from a multi-tenant building in Kabukicho, Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo, and the fire spread. a person died.
The Metropolitan Police Department continues to investigate the suspicion that someone set the fire, but it remains unsolved.
On the night of the 31st, before the 21st anniversary of the fire on September 1st, bereaved families and supporters visited the place where the building was located.
Yasuko Ueda (70), who lost her two daughters, Aiko Ueda (26 at the time) and her younger sister Ayako (22 at the time), who worked at a restaurant in the building, bought the flowers of the colors they both liked. They mourned the victims with hand-made bouquets.
Mr. Ueda said, "I feel like my daughters said, 'Thank you for coming this year.' I want you to be involved in the solution," he said.
A woman who worked at a restaurant before the fire also paid a visit to lay flowers, saying, "Every year on this day, I remember the older sisters I worked with and come to see them. We promised to meet next week." I have a friend who died in a fire," he said.
In this fire, objects were placed in front of the fire doors of the building, preventing the doors from closing properly, causing many casualties. In addition, the penalties for companies that commit egregious violations have been strengthened.