KYOTO -- Kyoto Animation Co., which suffered a deadly arson attack on one of its studios last year, has pledged to fulfill its lost employees' wishes through its work.
Daisuke Okeda, a lawyer representing Kyoto Animation, read a statement on behalf of the company at a press conference on Wednesday night in Kyoto.
"Not a day goes by without our remembering the many precious lives we lost. We have pledged to carry out their wishes, and we will fulfill that pledge through our work," Okeda read.
The company also expressed gratitude for the support and encouragement it has received. Some staff retired after the incident, but a few new employees were hired in April. All members of the company were working to help Kyoto Animation recover, Okeda said.
Global fans give 3.3 billion yen.
The incident shocked anime fans around the world. Popularly known as KyoAni, the company received donations of about 3.34 billion yen from Japan and abroad. In response to the outpouring of generosity, the Japanese government decided to take the unprecedented step of offering tax benefits to donors. The donated funds began to be distributed to bereaved families and surviving victims from March.
The animated film "Violet Evergarden the Movie," which was in production at the time of the incident, was completed by the remaining employees. Its release, initially scheduled for April, has been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The company's No. 1 studio in Kyoto, the scene of the incident, was torn down completely at the end of April.
A metal wall there surrounds what is now a vacant lot. Some people have called for constructing a memorial monument. However, Okeda said: "Companies, bereaved families and residents have different viewpoints and ways of thinking. We haven't decided when to start considering how to use the site."
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