The father of murder victim Mami Takahashi called the...

The father of murder victim Mami Takahashi called the death sentence given to Hiroshi Zota, 26, on January 19 satisfactory.
"The ruling was the one we have wished to hear," Seiya Miyazono, 67, said at a press conference after the ruling. "I feel as if the knife that stabbed into our family's heart has been removed."
The father added, "However, we have to carry scars from the incident for the rest of our lives."
Miyazono criticized Zota's decision to appeal to a higher court. "The defendant should not appeal, considering the significance of the incident, which dealt a serious blow to the myth of a safe Japan. I want the defendant to pray for the repose of the victims' souls until the sentence is executed," he said.
Mami's widower, Katsutoshi Takahashi, 36, who also attended the press conference, shared the same view. "I welcomed the ruling, which has been our family's earnest wish," he said.
However, he also showed mixed feelings about the ruling, saying, "As an individual, I am not convinced he could atone for the crime by simply receiving capital punishment."