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Governor: The Roleplaying Founder of Hansdeltanian States

WA Delegate: None.

Founder: The Roleplaying Founder of Hansdeltanian States

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Best Weather: 1,223rd Most Inclusive: 1,294th Healthiest Citizens: 1,326th+12
Most Compassionate Citizens: 1,626th Smartest Citizens: 1,817th Nicest Citizens: 1,959th Most Beautiful Environments: 1,975th Highest Food Quality: 2,337th Most Secular: 2,367th Most Scientifically Advanced: 2,450th Lowest Crime Rates: 2,654th Most Nations: 2,725th Largest Information Technology Sector: 2,748th Most Extensive Public Healthcare: 2,776th Largest Arms Manufacturing Sector: 2,795th
World Factbook Entry

Welcome to the Roleplaying Paradise!

Roleplayers welcome!

Our map (last update: 2023-06-17)
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All non-RP posts must be prefixed with "OOC."

Telegram our chief diplomat Neo-trinity for embassies



Embassies: Dream World and Summer Forest.

Tags: Anti-Fascist, Modern Tech, Post-Modern Tech, Role Player, and Small.

The Roleplaying Paradise contains 8 nations, the 2,725th most in the world.

Today's World Census Report

The Most Stationary in The Roleplaying Paradise

Long-term World Census surveillance revealed which nations have been resident in their current region for the longest time.

As a region, The Roleplaying Paradise is ranked 14,256th in the world for Most Stationary.

1.The Federal Union of HansdeltaniaDemocratic Socialists“Non sibi sed patriae”
2.The Warring Region of Free LevantInoffensive Centrist Democracy“אם תרצו, אין זו אגדה”
3.The Holy Republic of Grand-AbacoCapitalist Paradise“Forward, Onward, Upward, Together”
4.The Republic of NihonatoLiberal Democratic Socialists“We shall not repeat the error”
5.The Eporuean Union of The North Sea FederationPsychotic Dictatorship“Through the Ice. Through the Sea. We Unite to be Free”
6.The Staff of The Office of Roleplay AdministrationNew York Times Democracy“Observe”
7.The Roleplaying Founder of Hansdeltanian StatesDemocratic Socialists“Non sibi sed patriae”
8.The Democratic Republic of SaintriluLeft-wing Utopia“With Our Thoughts, We Change The World”

Regional Happenings

More...

The Roleplaying Paradise Regional Message Board

Messages

The Holy Republic of Grand-Abaco

Since the fall of the Shemesh government in July, much activity has buzzed around the coasts of the Levant. Countless ships from half a dozen nations kept flowing to and from the recently freed ports of Levant. Navy ships from Japan and Hansdeltania, in cooperation with Grand Abaco and Levant, patrol these waters, escorting civilian and contracted ships through. The rush of aid to the nation from across the globe has seen heavy traffic through the nation's cleared waterways, striking worry of possible loyalist movements, as well as possibly covering up the transit of wanted fugitives, from the nation.

While the seas have seen little activity by loyalist forces, since the fall of Shemesh, it is on the bridge of the G.A.S. Sebastian Orozco that these fears will be realized.

----

Off the Coast of Al-Beraz Governorate
August 20, 2023
00:02 Bennion Time

"Senior Officer Tanner, we have a development!" states a young technician rushes towards a group of officers huddled around a holographic table.

"Yes Technician? State your business." replies an officer looking at the holo table, mapping the naval group and surrounding vessels around Eilat-Aqaba.

"Sir, we have intercepted an encrypted message from a supposed Loyalist" the technician blurts out quickly.

The officer turns towards the technician, "Alright, give a report of what was decrypted. We are bu-..."

"I don't mean to interrupt sir..." the technician interjects, "but I think this is of maximum importance. It was of two former LSG officers, and they are transporting someone named PoI Glory."

The officer hesitates, thinking, "Person of Interest: Glory? Have we any information on this 'person of interest'?"

"Not yet sir, but they are supposed to be tracking out of Eilat in a couple hours."

"Technician, do we have a destination of where they are going to?"

"No, sir. But we have our suspicions somewhere in the Eusian area. We could halt any outgoing vessels, and order searches of their cargo.."

"Yes, we very well may do that. But we cannot cause much of a hold-up. We need to get these vessels in and out very fast. Hernandez, get the captain on the line and order the 144th to start screening cargo and persons entering the port. Whoever this is, I want them..."

----

Off the Coast of Al-Beraz Governorate
August 20, 2023
01:45 Bennion Time

The bridge is in a frenzy, relaying information to and from the naval group, as well as the shore. One nautical mile away, the GAS Daniel Chu has launched one of her RH-34s as the GAS Orozco contacts the command of the 144th Archipelago Guard.

"Outgoing vessels is what was reporte..."

"We need to launch at least one of our birds, Sir."

"That is not necessary, we only need one... Turn the vessel to 356, maintain 7 knots."

"But sir, if we..."

"Send one up"

"I said, that is not necessary! We can board with our Zodiacs, Lieutenant Commander. One is enough for now. If we need more, the Oslandia can provide. End of story."

..."PoI Glory is unknown. We don't..."

"Vessel off the bow, 2,500 yards."

"Sir, I understand, we are trying our best to get infor.."

"Call up the ship. Everyone, keep quiet, we could have something here...

...Unknown Ship, this is the GAS Orozco, state your cargo, number of souls on board, and your destination."

A static ridden radio replies with a heavy foreign accent. "Uhh, this is the MV Cape Sorah, cargo..." A brief pause is heard and murmuring is heard as the personnel on board speak their native tongue. "Nothing. We... empty. 5 of us"

"MV Cape Sorah, what is your destination?" Retorts the stern commander.

"Destination... Rorke... Natuna? Yes, Natuna..."

The commander looks around the room. "This seems off... I don't like this. Empty, and to where?"

"West coast of Caribbea, Sir", chimes in a Lieutenant.

"It isn't the right time... Still, we should stop and search the vessel..."

"Aye, sir."

"Vessel MV Cape Sorah, halt all movements and prepare for boarding."

Yelling is heard through the other side of the radio, in Levantine. As they yell, the commander on the destroyers orders their searchlights to illuminate the vessel.

"Ahh, bright.. Ok, we stop, we stop!"

"Captain of the MV Cape Sorah, bring all persons on board to the bridge."

"O-Ok" replies the worried foreigner.

--

Moments later, the ship turns parallel to the vessel and slowly approaches. Deploying two zodiacs, the rhibs speed their way alongside the small cargo ship and raise ladders to reach the deck.

Special forces aboard the rhibs climb their way atop, guns trained along the empty deck of the ship. The operatives follows the few lights leading towards the bridge as the second team boards from the other side.

Reaching the bridge the squad leader knocks on it. "Crew of the MV Sorah, this is the GAS Navy, open the door and allow entry."

The door opens as a small Levantine man slowly back away "Don't shoot, don't shoot, just sailors, no bad guys."

In the small bridge, 5 persons cover their eyes as the rifle mounted flashlights blind them. "Alright" says the squad leader, "Where are your documents? We are searching your ship, if there is anything on board that we need to know about, this will go much smoother if you just tell us now."

"No, no, no... Nothing...to hide." meekly replies the captain.

The captain retrieves the vessel's identification and registration, manifest, and safety certificate.

While going through it, the radio voices as the other team searches the rooms of the ship, and the cargo holds. "We got something in the holds! We are investigating..."

The squad leader looks through the paperwork as he dictates his men to detain the personnel on board.

"What did we do? Why do you try arrest us?" yelled the captain as he was placed in restraints, along with the other personnel on board. A mix of a low cry and an angered yell emanates through the bridge as the squad leader continues to validate the paperwork.

Suddenly multiple bangs are heard below deck, then a riddle of gun fire, the squad leader looking towards the captain as the radio comes alive with "Shots fired" and "Man down". A look of extreme terror fills the captain's eyes as he cowers down, sobbing against the wall.

"WHAT WAS THAT!? NOTHING IN HERE?" Yelled the squad leader. "S-1, J, P-1, and H, reinforce the personnel below."

"Roger" the men and woman state as they run outside, leaving just the 5 terrified crew and 5 of the boarding party.

The captain and his personnel are crying as they yell "They made us... They made us... We no want trouble..."

"Enemy's on board. Gull Bravo-One, requesting immediate assistance." The squad leader yells into his radio.

"Gull Bravo-One, moving overhead." a calm voice replies, behind the whir of rotor blades.

"Tango down, tango down" yells a shaken voice, on the radio.

"How many were there" The squad leader yells at the sobbing captain.

"Shnaim. Two. Two... Distract from other ship."

"Distract? What other ship?"

"Clearing vessel, looking for more tangos" states a person down below, in the depths of the ship...

"They will kill. They murder us... We are not safe..." sobs the captain.

"WHAT OTHER SHIP?"

"Boarding Party, this is Commander Dorset, unidentified vessel attempting to bypass the cleared channel, into a possible minefield. Gull Bravo-One, respond to the unknown vessel, attempt to board the fleeing vessel.”

"Commander, Sir, activate Gull Delta-One please, we need immediate evac for a wounded person on board."

"What is the status of the patient?"

Another voice frantically responds from below, "Two personnel down, one with a buck-shot wound to the chest, the other blunt force trauma to the head... both unconscious... one tango down, multiple gsws to... everywhere, brain matter showing..."

A low murmur then a "Copy." is relayed by the Orozco.

"What happened down there? Why are two of my men down?!" the squad leader furiously demands.

The captain sobs, "They said... They let on board, or will be killed... They said... distraction. They do not know I heard them say that. They do not know... Shemesh, loyalists, they are..."

"Gull Delta-One, lifting off."

"Gull Delta-One, prepare for three patients and 5 prisoners."

"Team below, how many tangos have you apprehended?" The squad leader barks.

"One, Sir" A quick reply states.

"There is one outstanding. Find him." Yells the squad leader.
He turns his attention back to the captain, who has begun composing himself.

"One not found? We need to get off. They will sink ship. They will flood ship!"

"Gull Delta One, get here ASAP"

"One mike out"

“Team below, have you brought the personnel topside?”

“Negative, still stabilizing!” Yells the frantic tac medic…

“Get them up here now! Leave the tango!”

Suddenly a lurching shakes the entire ship as creaking from below turns into the sound of rushing water. As this happens, Gull Delta-One comes overhead the small cargo ship, and the personnel on board rush out. Helping the prisoners up, the 5 men on the bridge take them to the deck. Coming out, with two wounded operatives, the 13 personnel from down below are all topside. Gently, the RH-34 lowered itself to be level with the deck, allowing the tac-med and the two downed personnel to get inside. Along with them, the 5 prisoners and 3 guards funnel their way onto the helo. Shaking and shuttering along the way, the MV Cape Sorah starts listing towards her stern, obviously taking on water. Rushing down their ladders, the rest of the 12 operatives on board retreat from the sinking vessel, just as the bow is lifted up and out of the water. Flying away, Gull Delta-One lands back on the Orozco, with the two zodiacs following behind. As the MV Cape Sorah turns skyward, Gull Bravo-One illuminates a ship off in the distance…

----

The Freeport Times,
Breaking News!

Incumbent President Jimenez of the Clearwater Party was inaugurated today, August 20, for her second term in office. While narrowly beating out her top competitor Finley of the Democratic Party. In her 90 minute speech today, she reaffirmed her stance to a centered administration, and her want to continue building Grand Abaco, while turning much former military funding to welfare and infrastructure projects, and to better the lives of Grand Abacoans, as well as for those in nations nearby. She stated that it is “our duty to not only look out for ourselves, but also for our neighbors, and come to them in their time of need.”

Due to the recent call for aid in the possible containment of a radiological incident in the Dialta Nuclear Power Plant, outside of Amman, Grand Abaco has stated that the 205th Olan Special Deployment Group will be stationed around the plant, to help with the containment of radiological agents, as well as evacuating civilians from the affected area. Personnel from the DoE have been selected to go to the Levantine facility, to help assess, contain, and restore the power plant to its pre-war state.

Given that Hansdeltania and Japan are responding to this crisis as well, the DoE has requested an International Atomic Energy Commission to be formed, to better handle the event and to make sure the staffing received is adequate to the situation, as well as to prevent any conflicts or miscommunications from arising between the relief workers.

For more stories and information about these topics, keep watching KTFP, Channel 5. Visit our website and our radio station, AM610, to stay up to date with all information coming in and out of Grand Abaco.

The Eporuean Union of The North Sea Federation

Aid for Levant

As the Levantine Civil War came to an end, and Levant reopened to the world once more, nations flooded the small southeastern Eporue nation with military and financial assistance. The North Sea Federation similarly looked to provide both military and economic aid to the recovering nation, but before any mission could get underway, the Parliamentary Ombudsman stated the deal needed to be reviewed before any aid could be sent.

In the aid package, 1,500 personnel, 300 vehicles, weapons, and munitions would all be sent to Levant, to aid in peace keeping operations, along with up to 5.5 billion Kr in aid for food and housing projects for the civilians of the nation. But as days turned to weeks, debating in the Parliamentary Ombudsman continued, until it was reached that no military personnel, or equipment will be sent to the nation, yet, given the large influx of foreign personnel and equipment, leading to an over encumbered military and foreign presence within the nation.

Despite the finding, the 5.5 billion Kr aid package was approved and sent to Afula-Zarqa. While nothing will help right the wrongs committed under the previous government of the nation, the only thing that can be done now is to rebuild, and restore the quality of life to its residents.

----

The North Sea Grand Prix Series

Over the past several years, the regions within The North Sea Federation have been quietly in talks about a new form of a racing championship. Having been years since a last official Formula series, TNSF hoped to bring back the excitement and enjoyment from the original series and implement one across the nation. Bringing back several of the teams, as well as tracks, into a new host of races that will take place throughout the year.

While hoping to slate the races in late summer, through to winter, environmental challenges proved to be too much, but that did not stop the planning of this series. Seeing 10 teams, including Aston Martin, McLaren, Ferrari, as well as new competitors, like Volvo and SAAB, on 20 tracks across the 10 regions of The North Sea, the series is set to begin sometime in the late winter or early spring of 2024, with races every weekend or every other weekend. Racetracks like Silverstone, Brands Hatch, and Circuit of KymiRing will be reused, granted with upgraded facilities, to support the events. With much excitement growing within the nation, TNSF hopes to market the events internationally, supporting the further regrowth of the series.

But until 2024, we shall see what is in store for the unknown racers of the NSGPS and the exciting stories that will be made. Accompanying the racing series will be a streaming series of the races, to get to further know and understand the people and the drama behind the wheels.

The Peoples Republic of Torturia

Hello folks, im relatively new and was wondering how to get on the regional map. If you know who I should telegram, please telegram me immediately thank you

The Peoples Republic of Torturia

Please read my dispatch about the buried history of Torturia for info about my rp

The Federal Union of Hansdeltania

The first contingent of 300 Hansdeltanian peacekeepers have arrived in the Levant on the heavy cruiser Moskva while the Fanion readies its two 700-megawatt nuclear reactors to supply power ashore. Ordinarily, some 125 megawatts from the nuclear reactors normally go to the ship's electrical systems and an additional 260 to power the propulsion systems at sea, but the Fanion will be able to use its reactors for the sole purpose of generating electricity. The 1,200-megawatt capability can easily supply electricity to more than 750,000 typical Hansdeltanian homes; this means that Levantine powerplants, especially the endangered Eilat-Aqaba nuclear powerplant, will have significantly less strain imposed on them.

The Republic of Nihonato

Asahi Shimbun (English edition)
AFROJ peacekeepers innovate new demining strategies

Historically, removing landmines in war-torn regions has been a daunting task. Engineers had to trudge across mine-ridden swaths of land with nothing more than a metal stick to prod the ground for mines, or a metal detector if they were lucky. Such business was always risky as they risked injury or death if they accidentally triggered a mine. The modern way to remove minefields is to either use a mine-clearing line charge—a long explosive cable that can clear a path up to 8 meters wide by 100 meters long carried by hand or farther by a rocket—or to use a spinning flail attached to a tank to strike a mine and detonate it a safe distance away. However, such devices are not always practical.

In the former case, MCLCs like the Type 92 Minefield Breaching Rocket System are only efficient when the mines are placed close together, and in the latter case, the flail can reduce the carrier tank's combat effectiveness. This is especially problematic in overseas deployments like in the Levant, where ROJA engineers have estimated that they have used up more than 75 percent of their in-theater stock of Type 92 MBRS rockets. While combat is no longer a major concern, the lack of tanks to mount Type 92 flails on (and a lack of Type 92 flails in general) makes flail-based demining operations more of a problem. Since the start of the AFROJ's peacekeeping mission in August, 5 soldiers have been killed clearing mines and 12 injured. However, one unit of ROJA peacekeepers is trying to change that.

The 2nd Infantry Company of the 40th Infantry Regiment, 4th Division has been in the Levant since the latter half of August. They have been assigned to protect Japanese and Levantine mine clearers in the Irbid District, but the small numbers of mine clearers in the area means that they sometimes have to go look for mines themselves. In September, they created a new method to find mines more efficiently: drones with thermal imaging. Company commander Captain Hayato Tsuchiya says that some of his soldiers came up with the idea after one of them suffered a minor burn defusing a landmine in the evening hours. They took out a thermal imager later that night and found that the metal landmines remained warmer than the surrounding terrain. At first, the 2nd Company used their rifles' thermal optics to locate mines, but then they came up with the idea of using a quadcopter drone fitted with a thermal imaging camera to survey a larger area.

On their first night using the new system, soldiers of the 2nd Company cleared more mines than they did in the previous week combined. Since then, they've found and cleared more than 1,000 mines, including 600 antipersonnel mines. Other Japanese demining units have slowly adopted the process, and where quadcopter-mounted thermal cameras are unavailable, thermal imaging cameras mounted on OH-1 scout helicopters and UH-60 utility helicopters are used instead. The current procedure is for an aerial thermal imaging controller to scan the ground for hot targets and direct mine clearers to objects of interest.

"However, we should not expect this to replace the standard mine clearance methods," Captain Tsuchiya said. "The airborne thermal imaging method should only be used when area mine clearing with explosives or mine rollers is not practical."

The Republic of Nihonato

Asahi Shimbun (English edition)
Japan's islands double to more than 14,000 following new survey

Japan is made up of many islands. Up to now, it was thought there were 6,852, based on a 1987 Japan Coast Guard report. However, when the Geospatial Information Authority (GSIA) of Japan recounted them recently for the first time in 36 years, the figure came to more than double that with 14,125.

Using data from the Digital Japan Basic Maps, which are the basis for 1:25,000 scale topographic maps, a count was conducted of naturally formed islands with a coastline of 100 meters or more in length. Artificial islands created through land reclamation or other means were excluded. The sharp rise in the number of islands was mainly due to advances in surveying technology, including aerial photography, making it possible to get a clearer picture of complex coastlines, and identify islands that had not been counted as they were thought to be connected to land or cases where two separate islands were thought to be one. However, the GSIA this week stressed that the new figure reflected advances in surveying technology and the detail of the maps used for the count – it did not change the overall area of land in Japan’s possession.

By prefecture, Nagasaki has the most islands with 1,479, including Iki, Tsushima, and the Gotō Islands. Hokkaidō comes a close second with 1,473 islands, followed by Kagoshima with 1,256. Tokyo’s administrative powers extend to both the Izu and Ogasawara Islands, so it ranks eighth with 635 islands.

The Republic of Nihonato

The Japan Times
Earthquakes strike northwest coast on New Year's Day; tsunami warnings in effect

A powerful earthquake measuring a 7 on the Japanese scale—the strongest on the scale—has rocked central Japan on New Year's Day, prompting a tsunami warning for a broad swath of the country's western coast.

Officials are urging evacuations of coastal areas in the Ishikawa, Niigata, Toyama and Yamagata prefectures, with over 1.2 meter waves reaching the Noto Peninsula's Wajima Port in Ishikawa—where a rare major tsunami warning is in effect—around 16:21, NHK reports.

Warnings of 3-meter tsunamis have been issued across the northwest coast all the way from Hokkaido to Nagasaki.

Those warnings were punctuated by several aftershocks following the initial quake, which registered an estimated magnitude of 7.4,​​ struck the Noto Peninsula, with waves as high as 5 meters predicted to hit the area. The Noto area experienced 7 earthquakes, while 11 had been registered across all of Japan as of 17:00.

Waves of 80 centimeters reached Toyama Prefecture around 16:35 and waves of 40 meters also reached Kashiwazaki, Niigata Prefecture, at 16:36. It also reached Niigata's Sado Island at 16:10.

The tsunami is expected to hit the Yamagata and Hyogo prefectures.

The major tsunami warning issued for the Noto Peninsula area is the highest alert out of 3 warnings and is equal to one issued after the March 2011 Tohoku earthquake.

Nuclear plant operator Tepco is checking whether there is any impact of the earthquake on its facilities in the region, according to a post by the company on its official account on Chirper. As of 16:30, no irregularities have been reported at the nuclear power plant in Kashiwazaki, Niigata Prefecture, according to NHK.

Damage assessments are not available at the moment.

This is a breaking story. Updates to come.

The Republic of Nihonato

The Japan Times
Double tragedy strikes Japan over New Year's; dozens perish in earthquakes, airliner crashes into another airplane at Haneda Airport

While the New Year's Day Earthquake tsunami warnings are no longer in effect, 4-meter waves have damaged at least 100 hectares of land in Suzu and Noto in Ishikawa Prefecture, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism. However, while no people have died from the tsunamis, the death toll from the quakes is believed to be much higher. Officials estimate that at least 70 people have died in the earthquake. In some areas, water, cell phone service, and power still remain inaccessible. In a government meeting today, President Kazuki Araya urged rescuers to work hard, stating that most casualties in a disaster come from the first 72 hours. He also increased the deployment of Self-Defense Force personnel from 1,000 to more than 4,000 and is considering recalling a number of Japanese troops from the Levant to aid in relief efforts. Rain is expected over the weekend, which will hamper rescue and recover efforts. Hansdeltanian troops in Japan have contributed aid, flying rescue, relief, and damage assessment missions. Hansdeltanian President Roman Pavlenko announced that he would be Battlegroup 707 would be tasked in providing power with their aircraft carrier's and battlecruiser's nuclear reactors while sailors help clear rubble and debris.

However, relief efforts will be hampered by the loss of a Japan Coast Guard aircraft in a crash when a landing Japan Airlines jet crashed into the Coast Guard airplane. Of the 6 Coast Guardsmen on board the Dash 8 airplane, only the aircraft commander survived. The JAL aircraft, an Airbus A350-900, was totally destroyed with the wings and fuselage separating; miraculously, all 367 passengers and 12 crew survived, though 14 were injured. Officials state that the timely evacuation was due in part to no passengers trying to bring their carryon luggage with them as they evacuated. Flights landing at Haneda International Airport have been diverted to the nearby Narita International Airport as well as Chubu Centrair and Kansai Airports farther away. One runway at Haneda remains closed and All Nippon and Japan Airlines have cancelled more than 200 domestic flights.

The Republic of Nihonato

The Japan Times
Kyoto Animation killer arsonist sentenced to death

Shinji Aoba was handed the death penalty on Thursday for setting a Kyoto Animation studio on fire in 2019 and killing 36 people, in one of Japan’s deadliest mass murders.
The Kyoto District Court found the 45-year-old man guilty of setting the three-story building on fire because of a grudge he had against Kyoto Animation. He claimed the studio had stolen his ideas after it rejected his novels in an annual contest the company hosts. There is no evidence the company plagiarized any of his work. Aoba also sustained heavy burns over most of his body in the attack.

On Thursday morning, 409 people lined up for a chance to secure one of the 23 seats available to listen to the court's ruling. Some members of the bereaved families were present as well. The focus of the trial was on whether he was mentally competent enough to be held criminally liable; presiding judge Keisuke Masuda said Aoba was not mentally incompetent nor in a diminished state at the time of the crime, judging that he is criminally liable for what he did.

The ruling said that Aoba headed to Kyoto from his home in Saitama and set the studio on fire to stop "Number 2," a figure from his delusions, from following him.

"But the impact of the delusions on the crime is not large," Masuda said. "The liability of taking the lives of 36 people is extremely grave, so there is no reason for the death penalty to be avoided."

Prosecutors had said he was competent enough and had argued that the death penalty was the only option given the gravity of Aoba’s crime. The defense team, meanwhile, had argued that he should be acquitted or receive a reduced sentence due to his diminished mental capability. Two psychiatrists who testified in court were also divided over his mental state.

On July 18, 2019, Aoba bought 40 liters of gasoline, after which he entered the Kyoto Animation studio, splashed gasoline on six workers while shouting "Go to hell!" and set the building on fire with a lighter. The fire engulfed the building, killing 36 people and leaving another 32 injured. A survivor who had testified in court said she escaped from a window after she was splashed with gasoline. She sustained burns over 94% of her body and had to undergo surgery 49 times.

"I feel despair whenever I look in the mirror. It's grueling to live with this body," she said.

In a December session, he apologized to the victims and their families and said that he should atone for what he did through the death penalty. He also said in September that he did not think so many people would die.

Prosecutors also revealed during the 22-session trial that, a month before the 2019 incident, Aoba had plotted a mass stabbing spree at the Omiya Station in Saitama Prefecture, but that he decided against it at the last minute.

Before the ruling was handed down, Judge Masuda asked Aoba, who was in a wheelchair and wearing a blue tracksuit, if he had anything to say, to which he replied, "No, I don't."

Kyoto Animation President Hideaki Hatta said in a statement afterward that although he thought the ruling was appropriate, his feelings of frustration remain strong. Nevertheless, Hatta said he hopes to continue making anime at Kyoto Animation so that the works of the victims will be passed on into the future.

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