People gathered in Nishinomiya, Hyōgo Prefecture, on Sunday to mark the 39th anniversary of a shooting at the Asahi Shimbun Hanshin bureau [1].
The event highlights the lasting trauma of one of Japan's most notorious unsolved attacks on the press and the ongoing struggle for accountability.
On May 3, 1987, an assailant attacked the first floor of the bureau, shooting two journalists [2, 4]. Tomohiro Kojiri, a reporter for the bureau, was killed in the assault [1, 2]. Kojiri was 29 years old at the time of his death [5].
Despite the severity of the crime, the case remains unsolved. The statute of limitations for the crime expired in 2002 [1, 3], meaning no criminal charges can be brought against the perpetrator under Japanese law.
During the memorial ceremony held this week, attendees paid their respects before a portrait of Kojiri [1]. The gathering served as both a remembrance of the fallen reporter and a call for the truth regarding the attack.
Visitors expressed the need for the journalism community to continue seeking answers despite the passage of time. One unnamed visitor said, "It may be the work of those of us living now to uncover the truth as soon as possible, even after so many years" [3].
The 39th anniversary gathering reflects a broader concern regarding the safety of journalists and the protection of freedom of expression in Japan [1, 3]. The event continues to draw crowds who view the unsolved nature of the 1987 shooting as a failure of the justice system.
“The case remains unsolved and the statute of limitations expired in 2002.”
The persistence of this memorial 39 years after the event underscores a deep-seated frustration with the Japanese legal system's statute of limitations, which effectively shielded the perpetrator from prosecution after 2002. By framing the search for truth as the 'work' of current journalists, the community is attempting to transform a cold case into a symbol for press freedom and a warning against violence targeting the media.
