Who Is 2008 Akihabara massacre? Age, Biography, and Wiki
Tomohiro Katō was born on June 26, 1982. As of 2025, he is 42 years old. Born in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, Katō became infamous for his role in the Akihabara massacre on June 8, 2008, where he drove a truck into a crowd, followed by a knife attack, resulting in multiple deaths and injuries. His actions shocked Japan and raised discussions surrounding mental health and societal issues.
| Occupation | Other |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | |
| Age | 43 Years |
| Birth Place | Akihabara, Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan |
| Horoscope | |
| Country | Japan |
Popularity
2008 Akihabara massacre's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
- Height: 170 cm (5 feet 7 inches)
- Weight: 65 kg (143 lbs)
- Measurements: No specific measurements are available for Tomohiro Katō, as personal attributes became less relevant following the tragedy he committed.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Information about Katō's family is limited, primarily due to the nature of his crimes overshadowing his personal life. As for relationships, Katō has not publicly disclosed any details regarding a significant other, girlfriend, or wife. Following his arrest and sentencing, any potential relationships have likely been non-existent, with most individuals distancing themselves from him due to the notoriety of his actions.
Tomohiro Katō (加藤 智大) grew up in a suburban home in Aomori. His father was a top manager in a financial institution. Katō's grades were considered to be exceptional in elementary school and he was a top track athlete. He entered Tsukuda Junior High School, where he became president of the tennis club.
However, Katō started to behave violently at home after enrolling at Aomori High School, an elite high school. There, his class academic ranking fell to 300 (of 360 students) and he failed entrance examinations for the prestigious Hokkaido University, eventually training as an auto mechanic at Nakanihon Automotive College.
Katō was hired as a temporary worker at an auto parts factory in Shizuoka Prefecture, though he had been recently told that his job was to be cut at the end of June.
Net Worth and Salary
Due to his criminal activities and subsequent incarceration, Tomohiro Katō does not hold any wealth in a traditional sense. His financial situation prior to the massacre was modest, and current estimates of his net worth are insignificant or non-existent. Any earnings from potential employment opportunities would have been halted due to his life sentence.
Career, Business, and Investments
Before the massacre, Tomohiro Katō worked in a variety of low-profile jobs, primarily in retail. He had no significant business endeavors or investments to his name. His actions on June 8, 2008, effectively ended any prospects of a career or a professional future.
Three days before the attack, on 5 June, Katō accused people at his workplace of hiding his work clothes and left the premises immediately afterwards. Apparently he believed at this point he was going to lose his job, though this was not actually the case, and may have triggered the attack.
Social Network
In the wake of the tragic event, Tomohiro Katō's presence on social networks is virtually non-existent. While discussions surrounding the massacre occasionally arise on platforms like Twitter and Facebook, they primarily focus on the societal impacts of violence and mental health rather than celebrating Katō as a figure of interest.
On 24 March 2011, Katō was sentenced to death by the Tokyo District Court after it found him fully responsible for the attack. In September 2012, the Tokyo High Court upheld the death penalty on appeal. Katō expressed remorse over the massacre, stating that he "would like to apologize to those who passed away, the injured, and their families".
Upon entering a guilty plea, he said he "knew he was the culprit though [he] had no memory of some parts of the incident". The Supreme Court of Japan upheld the death penalty on 2 February 2015.
Katō's death sentence was subsequently finalized, and he was held on death row until he was executed by hanging at the Tokyo Detention House on the morning of 26 July 2022.
Education
Tomohiro Katō attended high school and pursued some college education; however, details about his educational background remain limited. Reports suggest a lack of significant academic or vocational achievements, which may have contributed to his mental state leading up to the devastating events of 2008.
Katō was arrested for attempted murder after a police officer spotted him stabbing a woman. On 10 June, the police sent him to Tokyo District Prosecutor's Office. On 20 June, the police arrested him again on suspicion of murder of the seven victims. That same day, the Prosecutor's Office withheld action on him for the first suspicion.
While being positive about his capacity to be held criminally liable, the Prosecutor's Office decided by 20 June to demand that Katō's detention for a psychiatric test be authorized by the Tokyo District Court.
Conclusion
The Akihabara massacre remains an enduring reminder of the complexities of human behavior and societal challenges. Tomohiro Katō's story serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of mental health awareness and preventive measures needed to avoid similar tragedies in the future. As of 2025, the repercussions of that fateful day continue to resonate, urging society to reflect on the underlying issues that lead to such horrific acts.