[2] Due to Koda's family affiliation with the United Church of Christ, a cross tattoo was inscribed upon his arm.

[3] The family was from Nōgata, Fukuoka, a small southern city in Japan,[4] and his mother was a nurse.

Koda dropped out of high school in his junior year before he started working as an interior painter until 2002.

The Japanese government headed by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi refused to comply with these demands, stating that they will not concede to terrorists.

[2] The events provoked mixed responses in Japan; while many Japanese citizens were angered and appalled by the murder, some blamed the victim for not heeding the travel advisory and others criticized the Koizumi administration.