At Least 33 Killed in Suspected Arson Attack in Japan
ALLEN: Police in Japan are waiting to question a suspected arsonist following a deadly fire at a famous animation studio. At least 33 people were killed, 35 injured when flames swept through Kyoto Animation. Police say the 41-year-old suspects shouted "Die" before dousing the studio with what appeared to be gasoline. It took the Fire Department hours to get the fire under control. Joining me now is Susan Napier. She's a professor of Japanese Studies at Tufts University. Professor Napier, thank you so much for talking with us about this. We appreciate it. Because Japan is in grief over what is a horrible crime in a country that doesn't see very much crime, and the target was a treasure among anime fans -- animation, Kyoto Animation is the company and it's one of Japan's most well-known studios, what do you know about them?</s>SUSAN NAPIER, PROFESSOR OF JAPANESE STUDIES, TUFTS UNIVERSITY (via Skype): Well, it's a very, very beloved and popular company in Japan and it's also well-known worldwide for a number of really beautiful and popular animations. But it is a kind of unique company. And I mean, it's a tragedy for so many reasons. But perhaps particularly because this was a very special place. It was founded in 1981. One of its founders was a woman, which is very unusual in Japanese anime corporations and industry in general. And it really, right from the beginning, tried to establish itself as a place where creative animators would want to come and work and be kind of nourished and encouraged and supported, among other things by a very simple thing, which is the bottom line. They were salaried employees. And that's very unusual in the anime industry, and many, many animators worldwide, often using are usually are paid piecemeal by whatever it is you're producing, or whatever work you're working on at the time. But these people who worked at Kyoto Animation were the people who were employees who were committed to the institution, who knew they were going to be supported, who knew that they would have the margin, the flexibility, the time and the money to do really high quality work. And it showed in their production.</s>ALLEN: You mentioned that it's globally known. In fact, Netflix picked up two programs they produced in 2018. That shows the reach of their work, and you say it's unique. What is it about their work that is so cherished? What makes it special?</s>NAPIER: Well, I would say just one thing, the animation is gorgeous. And you know, if you love animation, this is really high quality video, beautiful stuff. I mean, what they will do is it's -- they have a particular style and they have many, many different animators working for them and many different series and indeed films and video games that they produce. But one absolutely kind of common, a thing that was common to them was that you would have just what we think it was ordinary scenes just from a school room or of a little nature scene glimpse from a window or, or just people walking, you know, in a sort of marketplace or something. And the ordinary stuff -- the table, the desk, the tree would be so beautifully animated that you would also -- in the ordinary, it was beautiful, and then they would add into it these very often strange or supernatural or fantastic elements such as aliens or ghosts, or just anything kind of that was really kind of outside of quote unquote, "normal daily life." And they would kind of inter-work it together in a very seamless way. So, just entering into their animation would be kind of entering into a very distinctive and unique world.</s>ALLEN: So, what you're saying, it was such a beautiful, beautiful product that these talented people were doing and reflective of the Japanese culture. So this, what makes this all the more horrible what has happened. We appreciate you kind of painting the picture for us, Susan Napier, thank you so much for joining us.</s>NAPIER: Oh, it's my pleasure. And thank you very much.</s>ALLEN: Puerto Rican governor Ricardo Rossello says he is more committed than ever to his job. That's even though thousands of people are demanding he resign. More protests are planned for Friday and on Thursday, people danced, chanted and drummed in the streets. The crowd was much smaller and peaceful, after protest the day before turned to violent. The unrest began with hundreds of pages of leaked chats where Rossello made sexist and vulgar comments.</s>ALLEN: The protests are also about suspected corruption, including the way Rossello handled the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. After weeks of massive public demonstrations in Hong Kong, protesters are divided on how best to reach their goals. The majority of them are peaceful, but some groups are happy to use more drastic measures, such as storming a government building earlier this month. There is even an extreme form of pacifism, the hunger strike, here's Paula Hancocks.</s>PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Uncle Chan is 73 years old. On a hunger strike for almost two weeks, he is tired and angry.</s>UNCLE CHAN, HUNGER STRIKER, HONG KONG (text): I am upset that the government is unmoved. Two million people took to the streets to protest. They ignored the public's plea and used violence to suppress Hong Kong citizens.</s>HANCOCKS (voice over): Chan is one of thousands who marched recently to the residence of Chief Executive Carrie Lam calling on her to fully withdraw a bill that would allow individuals to be extradited for trial in mainland China. One of a dozen Hong Kongers who was staging a hunger strike to make their point in the strongest way they know how.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hunger strike is a very classical social action. We need to use our life to show what we think.</s>HANCOCKS (on camera): So, a small number of protesters resorting to violence. How do you feel when you see that?</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In fact, we feel very unhappy. Because you see, both of them enhanced their arms. We are Hong Kong people. Hong Kong people won't fight together with each other.</s>HANCOCKS (voice over): This protest was an exercise in negotiation and cooperation.</s>HANCOCKS (on camera): These protests have been going for more than five weeks already. The Chief Executive of Hong Kong has apologized. She has said that the controversial extradition bill is dead. And yet up until this point, it is not enough to diffuse the anger.</s>HANCOCKS (voice over): Anger which has turned into violence breaking into and vandalizing the Parliament, clashing with police in the street leading to aggression and injuries on both sides. One student who wants to keep his identity hidden for fear of repercussions says he feels he has no other option.</s>HANCOCKS (on camera): Would you use force against the police to make your point?</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I would not suggest for that, but if there is a need, sorry I need to do that because they attack us, they are coming for us. Run, escape or stay and defend.</s>HANCOCKS (voice over): One tactic which protestors call aggressive nonviolence is now being used at many protests goading the police into using force. A shift the majority of peaceful protestors don't publicly support, but few publicly condemn.</s>HANCOCKS (on camera): Are you scared?</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, of course. I'm scared but I have no choice. If there is a choice that you stay at home and yes, we win. Of course, I want to do it.</s>HANCOCKS (voice over): Paula Hancocks, CNN, Hong Kong.</s>ALLEN: And just ahead, a heated exchange on Capitol Hill in Washington about the conditions inside migrant detention centers along the U.S. southern border. One lawmaker became emotional over the treatment of children.</s>REP. ELIJAH CUMMINGS (D-MD): What's that about? None of us will have our children in that position. They are human beings.