"I want his remark withdrawn," Otsuki, 67, said in an interview ahead of the first anniversary of the massacre, which left 19 residents killed and 26 people injured on July 26, 2016, at the care home, Tsukui Yamayuri-en, in Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture.

The suspect is Satoshi Uematsu, 27, who used to work at the facility.

Otsuki's 36-year-old son, Hiroya, who has severe intellectual disability, was unharmed because he was in a building away from the site of the stabbing rampage.

Uematsu "took care of my son and others," Otsuki said, showing mixed feelings toward the suspect. "His remark makes me sad."

"I want him to become aware that he killed many people in accordance with his idea," Otsuki added.

Nearly a year after the incident, the impact lingers on residents who escaped the attack. Some have fallen ill, some have gone gray, and others shed tears in front of parents.

Otsuki kept thinking why the incident had to happen. But no answer has been found.

After the incident, many bereaved families declined to disclose the names of the victims. Many families "wanted to be left alone," Otsuki explained.

Regarding a persistent sense of discrimination among the public, Otsuki said he wants many people "to understand that there are various people and to help each other."

After the incident, Otsuki "started to consider how to get involved in efforts to realize an inclusive society."

"Yamayuri-en has to become a source" that sends out messages to realize a discrimination-free society, he said, expressing his eagerness to do the work "with a big vision."

On Saturday, the Yamayuri-en operator and the family group held a memorial ceremony for the victims at a care facility in Yokohama, also in Kanagawa, at which Yamayuri-en residents are provisionally staying. (Jiji Press)