Ten Years Since Tsukui Yamayuri‑en Mass Killing in Sagamihara, Japan

On July 26, 2016 a former employee entered the Tsukui Yamayuri‑en disability facility in Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture, and killed 19 residents while injuring 26 others. The perpetrator, Seiko Uematsu, acted on a belief that disabled people were unnecessary, prompting nationwide outrage.

A decade later, on July 26, 2026, a memorial ceremony was held at a local hall. About 187 people, including Governor Yuji Kuroiwa of Kanagawa, attended and a flower‑offering session ran from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. A commemorative monument on the site lists the names of the victims. The facility, which had been temporarily relocated after the attack, reopened in 2021.

The anniversary has reignited discussion about the treatment of people with disabilities. A 2025 Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare survey reported 1,267 cases of abuse by staff in disability welfare facilities and 2,503 cases of abuse by family members, both record highs. Activists and writers reflect on whether societal attitudes have shifted since the tragedy.