Yesterday, I caught an interesting TV program called The! Sekai Gyouten News (The! World Shocking News). It focused on the drama in the hours and days after Kyoani arsonist Shinji Aoba received medical care for the massive burns on his body, from Doctor Takahiro Ueda.
The TV program follows the standard Japanese “variety program” model of showing a dramatization of events while a room full of famous “talents” react to each part of the story. The show makes us feel like we’re watching the unfolding drama alongside our favorite actors and comedians.
(If you’re curious, the program is available to watch online, assuming there aren’t location restrictions. If the site asks you to answer a questionnaire, enter your birth month, like 199804 if born in April 1998. For the Japanese postal code, you can enter 3720001.)
How Did Dr. Takahiro Ueda Fight to Save the Kyoani Arsonist?
Takahiro Ueda is a doctor and emergency care specialist from Fukuoka. Soon after beginning his medical school studies, the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake struck Osaka and Kobe. During that crisis, he learned the importance of proper emergency care first-hand. He cared for the victims of the 2004 Ikeda Knife Attack, which claimed eight lives. He was also on hand to help in the aftermath of the Amegasaki train derailment, Japan’s worst rail accident, which resulted in 107 deaths.
On July 20, 2019, Doctor Ueda assumed care of the perpetrator of the Kyoani arson attack, Shinji Aoba. 90% of Aoba’s body had been burned in the fire, and he was given only a 5% chance of survival. But Doctor Aoba was adamant that the arsonist should “not be allowed to escape into death” and instead face his crimes. He worked tirelessly to save the life of his patient.
The usual treatment for burn victims is to graft skin from unburned areas of the person’s body, but Aoba’s body was nearly totally burned. Another method was to take skin from cadavers in “skin banks,” but because this skin is in demand by more deserving patients, Ueda didn’t want to go this route. In the end, he found some undamaged skin next to where Aoba’s waist pouch had been and used a process to grow artificial skin from Aoba’s own cells. After several operations, Aoba regained consciousness.
What was my reaction to Shinji Aoba receiving the death penalty? Read my blog post here!
Pushback against Saving the Life of the Kyoani Arsonist
During the weeks that Doctor Ueda was fighting to save Aoba’s life, voices on social media expressed outrage. “They’re using our tax money to save that man, aren’t they? He’s better off dead!” Afraid of possible violence against Aoba by angry fans, Doctor Ueda ordered security to ensure his patient’s safety.
314 days after the Kyoani Arson Attack, Shinji Aoba was officially arrested for the crime. The court ordered extensive tests to determine if he was mentally able to stand trial for his actions. In January of this year, the death penalty was officially handed down. “The liability of taking the lives of 36 people is extremely grave, so there is no reason for the death penalty to be avoided.”
Japanese Fans React to the TV Program
I will never forgive Shinji Aoba, who dirtied the brand of Kyoto Animation and killed several of our favorite anime directors.
I’m sorry, but I believe this doctor did wrong. What’s the point in letting him live if he was going to be executed?
I happened to be in the middle of re-watching CLANNAD on my tablet when this show came on.
Thanks for reading this blog post about The! Sekai Gyouten News TV show about the doctor who saved the Kyoani arsonist. Do you think he should have been saved? Tell us your opinions in the comments below!
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