24 years since the Ikeda City tragedy: A family member's grief and hope at the memorial service, and the evolving course of the safety business

On the morning of March 4th, a steady stream of people visited "Niji no Kakehashi" (Rainbow Bridge), a memorial facility in Ikeda City, Osaka Prefecture. It marks 24 years since that dreadful day when a horrific incident unfolded at the Osaka Kyoiku University附属 Ikeda Elementary School. The attacker wielded a knife indiscriminately, claiming the lives of eight children. The附属 Ikeda Elementary School incident sent shockwaves through every school in Japan, shattering the myth of absolute safety.

Approximately 300 people attended this year's memorial service, including bereaved families, teachers, staff, and local residents. They observed a moment of silence and offered flowers. One bereaved mother, speaking quietly, said, "Even after 24 years, I can still vividly see my child's smile in my memory. We must not let this tragedy fade into the past. To ensure this sorrow is never repeated, we will continue to speak out." Her words resonated deeply with everyone present.

Over these 24 years, school safety in Japan has undergone a major transformation. Security cameras are now standard, and many schools have implemented controlled gate access and manuals for handling suspicious individuals. However, as someone who has worked in the safety industry for many years, I am concerned that we still see instances of "safety in name only." For example, it's not uncommon to find cameras installed but not recording, or manuals in place without the backing of practical, hands-on training drills.

At this year's memorial service, the bereaved families' association renewed its call for "enhanced mental health care" and "the creation of community-based systems to watch over children." The children who were orphaned, many still very young at the time, are now adults, living with and confronting their own trauma. Another challenge that came to light is the difficulty of passing on the memory of the event, as many of the teachers who experienced it have since left the profession.

"Don't Forget": A message from the families on the 24th anniversary

At the memorial service, several bereaved family members shared their thoughts. Their messages conveyed the following heartfelt wishes.

• Preventing the memory from fading: "As time passes, we feel society's interest waning. We won't forget, but the real challenge is how to pass this on to the next generation."
• Continuous evolution of safety measures: "We want schools to learn from the lessons of that day and create an environment that can also respond to new types of threats."
• Care for invisible scars: "With more teachers who are unaware of the incident, it's crucial to have adults who can notice subtle changes in children."

These voices highlight an area that cannot be solved simply by adding more safety equipment. In other words, a major theme for the future will be how to address vulnerabilities in the 'soft' aspects (human resources development, community, mental support) alongside the 'hard' infrastructure improvements.

Business opportunities in 'safety': Market transformation 24 years on

Over the past 24 years, the market for school safety-related products and services has steadily expanded. The demand for hardware like security cameras, IC card gates, and emergency alert systems remains stable. However, what I'm focusing on is the emergence of new business developments beyond this.

First, the mental health care sector. The trauma of such an event casts a long shadow, not only on the bereaved families but also on local residents and the emergency responders from that day. While there are many corporate mental health services available, there is still a significant lack of counselling and training programmes specifically designed for 'critical incident stress.' This represents a highly specialised niche market with significant growth potential.

Next is community-watching technology. As volunteer crime prevention patrols age, there is a growing need for IT solutions that supplement 'community eyes', such as AI-powered surveillance cameras and location-sharing apps. For example, services that alert parents in real-time about their children's safety during the commute to and from school are already being adopted by many local governments. However, there's considerable room to add new value, such as more advanced risk prediction systems.

Furthermore, we're seeing the emergence of business models centred on 'preserving memory.' This could involve creating digital archives of the incident's records to be used as educational materials in schools. Or, it might take the form of 'memorial tourism,' linking the operation of memorial facilities to regional revitalisation. Due to the high public interest involved, collaboration with government and fostering a culture of charitable giving will be key. Still, these models are worth considering as sustainable ways to convey history.

Of course, the most crucial aspect of developing such businesses is balancing 'dignity' with 'profit.' Exploiting a tragedy purely for marketing is absolutely unacceptable. I firmly believe that the prerequisite for long-term success in this field is to build services that are genuinely beneficial to society, while gaining the understanding and trust of the bereaved families and the local community.

A changed landscape, an unwavering vow

Even after the memorial service concluded and the attendees had left, flowers continued to be placed at the "Niji no Kakehashi" memorial. The memory of that day, 24 years ago, has not faded; it remains etched into the fabric of this community.

The shape of safety changes with the times. But the vow to 'never let such a tragedy happen again' is an unchanging promise that must be carried forward by society as a whole. The process of giving form to that promise involves many challenges that require collaboration between the public and private sectors. What can each of us do to ensure this event doesn't become just 'the past'? Perhaps continually asking ourselves that question is the true starting point for a meaningful safety business.