Garden staff members offering flowers and praying at the memorial monument on the morning of the 26th at Tsukui Yamayuri-en

Following the incident on July 26, 2016, at the Kanagawa Prefectural Tsukui Yamayuri-en in Sagamihara City’s Midori Ward, where 19 individuals with disabilities were killed and 26 others, including staff, were seriously or slightly injured, the flower offerings continued by local residents reached their 100th occasion on the 26th of this month. Since May 2017, flowers have been offered without fail at the site on the monthly anniversary, fostering interactions with visitors. The community has continued to confront the event.

“Looking back, there have been many encounters and opportunities for dialogue. While it’s not yet possible to say we have a firm sense that we are moving toward a society where such an incident will never happen again, we have gained a little confidence and conviction.” On the morning of the 26th of this month, at the memorial monument in front of the facility’s entrance, the co-representative of the group spoke.

The group was formed in March 2017 when local residents with various thoughts and feelings after the incident came together. The current membership consists of fewer than 10 people, primarily residents of the former Sagamiko Town area where the facility is located. With the motto “Do not forget, do not let it fade, pass it on to future generations,” they have conducted monthly flower offerings on the anniversary and held annual memorial services to remember the victims.

Having worked at the facility for 36 years until retiring in 2004, the former staff member has continued to reflect since the incident. As someone involved in welfare, did they do enough? As a local resident, was their engagement with the facility sufficient? Did they ever wish for their own child to be born without disabilities? The questions about the violent act committed by a former employee in the local community did not cease, driving them to take action.

What prompted the flower offering activities?

Tsukui Yamayuri-en

Tsukui Yamayuri-en is a large public park in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, famous for its expansive fields of yamayuri (Lilium auratum), a native Japanese lily. The park was established to preserve the natural habitat of these flowers and to provide a recreational space, with its history of cultivation dating back several decades. It is now a popular destination, especially during the summer blooming season when thousands of lilies cover the hillsides.

Kanagawa Prefectural Tsukui Yamayuri-en

Kanagawa Prefectural Tsukui Yamayuri-en is a public park in Sagamihara, Kanagawa, famous for its expansive hillside gardens featuring over 500,000 lilies (yuri). It was established in 1961 to provide a recreational green space for residents and visitors, built upon the area’s natural landscape to create a scenic destination that blooms spectacularly each year from mid-June to early July.

Sagamihara City

Sagamihara is a modern city in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, which grew rapidly in the post-war period as a major industrial and military hub, hosting a large U.S. Army base (Camp Zama). Its history, however, dates back much further, with archaeological evidence of human settlement from the Japanese Paleolithic period.

Midori Ward

Midori Ward is one of the 18 wards of Yokohama, Japan, established in 1969 through the administrative division of the city. Historically a collection of small towns and farmland, it has developed into a major residential and commercial suburb, known for its numerous parks and green spaces that reflect its name, which means “green.”

memorial monument

A memorial monument is a structure erected to honor and remember people, events, or concepts of historical significance. These sites are often built to commemorate sacrifices, such as those made in wars, or to celebrate major national achievements. Their history is intrinsically tied to the collective memory and identity of the community that builds them.

Sagamiko Town

Sagamiko is a town located in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, historically known for its agricultural production and scenic nature. It is most famous for the Sagamiko Pleasure Forest, a large recreational park and resort that opened in the 1960s, which includes attractions like a panoramic observation tower and seasonal illumination events.