How much do you know about Japan? Probably something along the lines of its a country known for its breath taking scenery, incredible cuisine, and polite customs. That its home to Nintendo or Sony or that it creates wildly popular animations like Pokémon or Sailor Moon? Well one thing you may have not known is that Japan is one of the safest countries, boasting the lowest crime rate in Asia and one of the lowest crime rates in the world. However on Tuesday, July 26th, tragedy struck the town of Sagamihara.
Sagamihara, around an hour outside of Tokyo, is known as a nice get away from the hustle and bustle of the major city and sees some of the beautiful landscapes that Japan is known for. This peaceful calm was eclipsed on early Tuesday when a man wielding a knife walked into Tsukui Yamayuri En, a medical facility that house the disabled, and began attacking people. In total 19 people were killed, 45 injured, and 20 in critical condition local reports say. The attacker was former employee of the facility, Satoshi Uematsu, 26, who was cited saying “Its better that the disabled disappear.” Uematsu’s reason for leaving the facility seemed to be from a falling out with management after he began showing extreme discrimination against the disabled.
However in the days following the attack, evidence has appeared that this attack was not a bout of rage or some new psychotic break. Back in February, Uematsu tried to deliver to a three page call to action to a member of the Japanese Parliament calling for the legalization of euthanizing the disabled as well as boasting the claim that he was able “to kill 420 disabled people.” This letter goes on to describe all the ways he seems to hold hatred towards the disabled, mention of a few conspiracy theories, and then shockingly admits he planned to attack his former workplace. After Parliament received this letter, Uematsu was held for psychiatric evaluation only to be released a few days later with a clean bill. Begging the question on whether this tragedy could have been avoided? Uematsu was a clear danger to others, exhibiting signs of a total change in personality and possibly a mental breakdown as far back as February. He even went as far as documenting his new found ideals and planning what would later come in July but with a larger casualty list. Even after being held for evaluation, why was this man allowed to do as he pleased? It seems almost like a slap on the wrist, if that, was all that was used to deter this event waiting to happen. Unfortunately many were killed in the attack and more injured, this rare event is now the largest massacre in Japan since World War 2 and has left all of Japan rattled in its wake. Even more shocking is that this story didn’t even make mass media, in the New York Times, such a rare tragedy didn’t even make front cover, over shadowed by reports from events like the DNC and RNC. In a time of such prevalent global violence, we must stand together no matter the distance.
I hope I speak for everyone when I say this but our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and families of Sagamihara.
