The Worst Terror Incident in History – The Tragedy Caused by a Cult Religious Leader (Tokyo Subway Sarin Attack/1995)

What kind of incident do you imagine when you hear the word “terrorism”?

Regardless of where you live, wouldn’t you first envision 9/11?

As a Japanese person, I’m one of those who would immediately think of that event. However, there was an incident in the past in Japan, a country known worldwide for being peaceful and safe, that is also considered one of the worst terror attacks in history.

This was a heinous act committed by a cult religion, but I believe it’s relatively unknown outside of Japan, so I want to shed light on it in this article.

Introduction

While religion is meant to bring spiritual salvation and peace to people, sometimes extreme followers or leaders distort its teachings, leading to tragic events. The series of incidents involving the Japanese cult “Aum Shinrikyo” (Supreme Truth Sect) exemplifies the dark side of religion. This essay will explore how Aum Shinrikyo transformed from a religion preaching love and peace into a vicious organization that carried out indiscriminate mass murder terrorism.

The Founding of Aum Shinrikyo and Shoko Asahara

Aum Shinrikyo was a new religious movement established in 1987 by Chizuo Matsumoto (later known as Shoko Asahara). Born with a visual impairment, Asahara was raised in a school for the blind. After graduating, he ran an acupuncture clinic in Chiba Prefecture before founding Aum Shinrikyo in 1987. While the teachings were complex, the core belief was that followers could be “liberated from the suffering of this world and attain happiness in the next life.”

In its early days, Aum Shinrikyo gained notoriety through Asahara’s flamboyant performances. In 1990, he ran for the House of Representatives but suffered a crushing defeat. However, even at this stage, signs of Asahara’s insanity began to emerge. He blamed the election loss on a “conspiracy” and started to regard society and the state as enemies.

The Path to Militarization and Criminality

Seeking to recover from his defeat, Asahara plotted to militarize the cult at the “Satian” compound in Yamanashi Prefecture. He aimed to develop biological and chemical weapons, and even attempted to develop nuclear weapons. This was likely the result of trying to establish an independent value system and structure in an isolated, enclosed space cut off from the world.

In 1989, an incident occurred where the family of lawyer Tsutsumi Sakamoto, who had led the movement against Aum, was murdered. The following year, in 1994, there was an incident in Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture, where the deadly nerve agent sarin (a highly toxic nerve gas) was actually released. These were merely preludes to the atrocious crimes committed by Aum Shinrikyo.

The Tokyo Subway Sarin Attack

On March 20, 1995, Aum Shinrikyo carried out what is considered the worst indiscriminate terror attack in history. Followers boarded Tokyo subway trains and released approximately six liters of sarin gas. In this “Tokyo Subway Sarin Attack,” 13 people were killed, and over 6,300 more were injured.

While the motive behind the attack remains unclear, statements from Aum at the time suggest it was an attempt to evade crackdowns. In other words, the cult, having lost its way, made a last-ditch effort. It was an unprecedented indiscriminate act of terrorism.

Conclusion

Why did Aum Shinrikyo choose to go down this path? The root cause is thought to lie in Asahara’s mental instability as the cult’s leader, but a lack of trust in society and the isolated group mentality likely played significant roles as well. From this tragedy, we must learn the importance of tolerance and an open mind. We must never repeat the same mistakes.

Thank you for reading to this point.

What do you think about terrorism in your country or the most horrific acts of terrorism you can think of? Please share your thoughts in the comments.

Your comments will undoubtedly help deepen other readers’ understanding, and I hope you’ll assist me in making my amateur article “ultimate” together.