Tokyo (AP) – Three decades after the deadly sarin nerve gas attack on the Tokyo subway, survivors and families of the deceased continue to pursue justice.
On March 20, 1995, members of a cult released sarin nerve gas on a subway train in Tokyo, resulting in the deaths of 13 people and leaving thousands ill. This incident remains one of Japan’s most shocking atrocities, despite the nation’s reputation for low crime rates.
The cult, Aum Shinrikyo, later disbanded. Its founder, Asahi Koko, and 12 disciples were executed in 2018.
Nevertheless, around 1,600 former members continue their activities under a new name, disregarding orders to compensate the victims and their families.
Takahashi Shiju lost her husband, a station master, in the attack. The couple was looking forward to enjoying life after raising three children when tragedy struck.
“My life is still devastated by AUM and its successor group,” said 78-year-old Takahashi.
People gasped for breath
At 8 a.m. during the rush hour, five cult members boarded separate trains across three subway lines leading to Japan’s government center, Kasumigaseki, dispersing sarin gas packets on the floors. They punctured the bags with umbrellas and released the toxic gas into the train cars.
Within minutes, commuters rushed to the platform, some rubbing their eyes and gasping for air. Many collapsed, while others ran to the streets where ambulances and rescue workers awaited.
Takahashi Kazuma had no idea that the liquid he was cleaning on the subway floor was sarin. He collapsed after removing one of the bags—a sacrifice that some survivors believe saved lives—and never regained consciousness.
The attack left over 6,000 individuals ill, and the 14th victim succumbed to complications in 2020.
The subway gas attack followed failed police investigations that did not connect the cult to earlier crimes, according to Nakamura Hirokuni, a lawyer for the survivors and their families. “This could have been prevented,” he claimed.
Two days post-attack, Tokyo police conducted a raid on Aum’s headquarters near Mount Fuji using canaries to detect poison, uncovering hidden sarin production facilities.
Apocalyptic Cult
Founded in 1984 by Asahi Koko, born in Matsumoto in 1955, Aum Shinrikyo promoted the belief that death could elevate one’s spirit and dare to justify murder.
Devotees, who paid to consume purified water, donned electric headgear believing it would synchronize their brainwaves with Asahi. He prophesied an imminent apocalypse, claiming only true believers would survive.
Asahi recruited doctors, lawyers, and scientists from Japan’s top educational institutions as his inner circle.
Funding from donations, yoga classes, and health food ventures enabled Asahi to acquire land and equipment. His scientists were involved in developing and manufacturing sarin, VX, and other chemical and biological weapons.
In 1989, its members murdered lawyer Sakamoto Tsutsumi along with his wife and child, escalating their criminal actions after their defeat in the 1990 elections. A sarin attack in Matsumoto in 1994 resulted in eight deaths and over 140 injuries.
Overall, Aum was responsible for 27 deaths in over a dozen attacks culminating in the subway gas incident, influenced by a plot aimed at hastening Armageddon and overthrowing the government.
Seeking Justice
Takahashi Shiju attended the majority of AUM’s criminal trials. She advocated for government support, resulting in laws that provide benefits to crime victims and around $20 million for the relatives of over 6,000 affected families.
The government has since enacted legislation banning the production and possession of sarin, alongside measures restricting groups involved in mass killings. Police have also established specialized units for nuclear, biological, and chemical threats.
The main successor group, Aleph, has defied a court order to pay one billion yen ($6.7 million) to survivors and families. Reports suggest that the group is concealing significant profits from yoga and spiritual seminars.
Many survivors still grapple with ongoing health issues and psychological trauma, according to support groups.
Takahashi and others recently urged Justice Minister Suzuki to expedite compensation efforts by Aleph and enforce stricter oversight.
Survivors and advocates argue that not enough lessons have been shared with the public.
Journalist Shoko Egawa, an expert on AUM, states that public focus on the group has largely been criminal in nature, failing to educate people on avoiding dangerous cults. “There’s much to learn about how they attracted followers to prevent lives from being devastated by cults,” explained Egawa.
Takahashi recently launched a website curating articles and comments from survivors, lawyers, and authors, including a 2007 piece by Murakami about his book, Underground.
Remnants of Aum
At its height, the cult claimed more than 10,000 followers in Japan and 30,000 elsewhere, including Russia. Although AUM has disbanded, around 1,600 individuals associated with Aleph and two smaller groups in Japan continue to practice Asahi’s teachings, according to the Public Safety Intelligence Agency.
Minor Kariya, whose father was killed by AUM members as he attempted to leave the cult in early 1995, expressed concern about the lingering threat. “It’s frightening that they still exist, functioning as an organization and recruiting new members,” he stated.
Source: apnews.com