An elementary school in Osaka Prefecture on Wednesday mourned the deaths of eight children, who were killed by a knife-wielding intruder on June 8, 2001, marking the 10th anniversary of the tragedy.
The students and teachers at Ikeda Elementary School as well as relatives of the slain gathered in front of a monument to the victims for a silent prayer and to pledge to keep the school safe.
The eight — seven girls in second grade and a boy in first grade — were slain, while 15 others, including two teachers, were wounded in the rampage. Mamoru Takuma was hanged in 2004 for the murders after withdrawing his appeal against the death sentence in the first trial.