Saturday marks one year since a deadly arson attack on a medical clinic in the western Japanese city of Osaka. Mourners have been laying flowers at the site to commemorate the dozens who died.

The attack occurred on December 17 at a mental health clinic in Kita Ward. Twenty-six people died, including patients, the clinic's doctor and staff.

Arson and murder suspect Tanimoto Morio, who was then aged 61, also later died due to carbon monoxide poisoning in the attack. Police sent the case to prosecutors but Tanimoto was not indicted.

A group supporting the bereaved families says they are still suffering, as due to Tanimoto's death, it is no longer possible to uncover the truth about the crime in court and hold the suspect responsible.

Some people point out that families of victims who were unemployed at the time of the crime cannot receive sufficient compensation because the government subsidy is based on the victims' income.

Some families have also been targeted for abuse after it became known their relatives were receiving mental health care.

Inoue Naomi of an Osaka advocacy center for crime and accident victims says the families have been doing their best to carry on while struggling with grief for the past year.

She called on the government and relevant organizations to offer more support to the families so they can move forward.