Key Facts
• February 2024: Incident occurred at a convenience store in Sapporo.
• Three victims attacked with a knife; one killed, two injured.
• Defendant Hirotaka Miyanishi used a petty knife to commit the crime.
• July 2, 2025: Sapporo District Court sentenced Miyanishi to 30 years in prison.
• Prosecution argued Miyanishi was in a state of diminished capacity (schizophrenia).
• Defense claimed Miyanishi was in a state of insanity and sought acquittal.
• Judge Toshikazu Ido ruled the attack as indiscriminate and life-disregarding.
• Miyanishi showed no remorse or apology during the trial.
• Victim’s wife expressed grief, stating her husband cannot return despite the verdict.
Summary
In February 2024, Hirotaka Miyanishi attacked three individuals at a convenience store in Sapporo, killing one and injuring two. On July 2, 2025, the Sapporo District Court sentenced him to 30 years in prison, aligning with the prosecution’s request. The court acknowledged Miyanishi’s diminished capacity due to schizophrenia but emphasized the severity of his indiscriminate actions and lack of remorse. The defense’s claim of insanity was rejected. The victim’s wife expressed sorrow, stating the verdict cannot bring her husband back.
