The Tokyo subway terrorist attack

Today is the nineteenth anniversary of the 1995 March 20th sarin gas attack on three lines of the Tokyo subway system.

I remember that day well.

Prior to that cowardly attack, I had never heard of “sarin gas”. But it’s a nerve agent that is deadly and is easily airborne.

This attack was carried out by the bizarre followers of the equally bizarre Asahara Shoko in the weird “Aum Shinrikyo” cult.

I had known about this cult before the March 1995 attacks. I had seen some of their brainwashed followers in a public park doing some kind of yoga-like stretches and chanting. So I knew they were strange…but until 1995 March 20th, I didn’t know they were dangerous, as well.

It was reported after the attacks that the “reason” these people put containers of nerve gas on trains that killed thirteen people and injured thousands was because they were brainwashed by the cult’s leader, Asahara, that he was the second-coming of Christ and this attack was needed to hasten “Judgement Day”. Or something ridiculous like that.

After this attack, the train and subway lines in Japan were on “high alert”, public trash bins were removed from all stations (a number have since been replaced with a new “transparent” design), there were “Wanted” posters all over Japan for the people responsible, and the “Aum Shinrikyo” cult was designated as a terrorist organization and forced to close down.
Unfortunately though, the members of the cult who weren’t arrested simply changed the name of their group to “Aleph” and still meet under that name.

15 years ago today

Today is the fifteenth year anniversary of the worst domestic terrorist attack in Japanese history…the 「地下鉄サリン事件」 (“Tokyo Subway Sarin Gas Attack“)

On 1995 March 20, the religious cult 「オウム真理教」 (“Aum Shinrikyo“), led by the bizarre 麻原 彰晃 (Asahara Shoko), released a toxic gas called Sarin on five subways simultaneously.

Their intentions were to overtake the government of Japan and start a “new world order”.

Their attack killed twelve people and injured thousands, fifty people seriously.

The members of the cult who carried out the attack and their leader Asahara were put on Japan’s most wanted list. The posters were all over Japan.

A few of them were captured, including Asahara, and given death sentences. Asahara is currently on death row.

Also the government removed the Aum Shinrikyo group’s “religious group” status.
Soon afterwards, the Aum Shinrikyo cult changed their name to “Aleph and tried to distance themselves from the attack and gain a positive public image.

Even with the name change and new leadership, most people in Japan still distrust them and the government still hasn’t reinstated their “religious status”.

Most Japanese people, by the way, aren’t religious at all. So it’s very uncommon for people to join a religion…especially one as bizarre as “Aum Shinrikyo” (“Aleph”).

Three people who helped carry out the 「地下鉄サリン事件」 (“Tokyo Subway Sarin Gas Attack“) are still fugitives on the run.

Their faces can be seen on “Wanted” posters around Japan. (If you see one of them, call the police. They have a 200万円 (¥2,000,000 (about US$20,000)) bounties on their heads.)