In April 2019, a car driven by an elderly man sped out of control in Tokyo's Higashi-Ikebukuro area, killing then 31-year-old Matsunaga Mana and her 3-year-old daughter Riko and injuring other pedestrians.

On the seventh anniversary of the incident on April 19, people came to the accident site to offer their prayers.

They included Matsunaga Takuya, the husband and father of the fatal victims.

S/ Matsunaga Takuya, Bereaved family / Until I became a bereaved family member, I thought of traffic accidents as someone else's problem. I truly regret that. This is why I don't want anyone living today to end up in a similar position. In this motorized society, anyone can become a perpetrator or a victim. If people would think about what they can do to help eliminate traffic accidents, then the lives of my wife and daughter will have some measure of peace.

He said many accidents can be prevented simply through awareness and urged people to consider choices such as refraining from driving when they are not feeling well and going for regular health checkups.