Three decades after the deadly sarin gas attack on Tokyo’s subway system, survivors and bereaved families continue their pursuit of justice.

On March 20, 1995, members of a cult released sarin nerve gas on subway trains in the capital, resulting in 13 fatalities and thousands of illnesses. The incident remains a deeply unsettling event in Japan, a nation typically characterized by its low crime rates.

The cult, known as Aum Shinrikyo or Supreme Truth, has since been dissolved. Its founder, Shoko Asahara, along with 12 of his followers, were executed in 2018.

However, approximately 1,600 former members are still active under different group names and have not complied with a court order to compensate survivors and grieving families.

Shizue Takahashi, whose husband was a deputy station master, lost him in the attack. The couple was beginning to enjoy their time together after raising their three children when the tragedy occurred.

“My life continues to be impacted by Aum and its successor organizations,” said Takahashi, 78. “We must persevere and ensure that the memories do not fade.”

People struggled to breathe and collapsed.

At 8 a.m., during the morning commute, five cult members boarded separate train cars on three subway lines converging , the location of Japan’s government center. Each member released sarin gas from bags onto the train floors by puncturing them with umbrellas.

Commuters quickly exited the trains onto the platforms, rubbing their eyes and gasping for air. Some collapsed, while others ran into the streets where ambulances and rescue personnel in hazmat suits were administering first aid.

Kazumasa Takahashi was unaware that the liquid he was cleaning on the subway car floor was sarin. He collapsed while removing a bag—an act that some survivors believe saved lives—and never regained consciousness.

The attack caused illness in over 6,000 people. A fourteenth victim passed away in 2020 due to severe long-term effects.

According to Yuji Nakamura, a lawyer representing the survivors and bereaved families, the subway attack occurred following a flawed police investigation that failed to connect the cult to previous offenses. “It could have been prevented,” he stated.

Two days after the gassing, Tokyo police, using a caged canary to detect poison, raided Aum’s headquarters near Mount Fuji. Inside, they found cult members living, training, and producing sarin. Asahara was discovered hidden in a secret compartment.

Apocalyptic cult

Born Chizuo Matsumoto in 1955, Asahara established Aum Shinrikyo in 1984. The cult combined elements of Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, and yoga, attracting young individuals disenchanted with materialism. He taught that death could elevate their spirits and justified killing as a virtuous act.

Followers paid to drink Asahara’s bathwater and wore electrical headgear that they believed synchronized their brainwaves with the guru’s. He predicted an impending apocalypse, which only true believers would survive.

Asahara gathered doctors, lawyers, and scientists from Japan’s leading universities to serve as his closest advisors.

Using donations from followers and income from yoga classes and health food businesses, they acquired land and equipment. Asahara’s scientists developed and produced sarin, VX, and other chemical and biological weapons.

In 1989, cult members murdered Tsutsumi Sakamoto, a lawyer who opposed the cult, along with his wife and infant son. Their criminal activities escalated after their defeat in the 1990 parliamentary elections. A sarin attack in Matsumoto, a central Japanese city, in 1994 resulted in eight deaths and over 140 injuries.

In total, Aum was responsible for the deaths of 27 people in more than a dozen attacks, culminating in the subway gassing. This was part of Asahara’s plan to hasten Armageddon and overthrow the government.

Still seeking redress

attended the majority of the Aum criminal trials. She has advocated for government support, leading to the enactment of a law providing assistance to crime victims and government benefits of 3 billion yen ($20 million) for over 6,000 survivors and bereaved families affected by Aum’s crimes.

The government has also passed legislation prohibiting sarin production and possession, and restricting the activities of groups associated with mass killings. Police have since established nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons units and enhanced training.

Aum’s primary successor, Aleph, has disregarded a court order to pay 1 billion yen ($6.7 million) in compensation to survivors and bereaved families. The group is suspected of concealing billions of yen in income from yoga and spiritual seminars.

Many survivors of the subway gassing continue to suffer from health problems and trauma, according to support groups.

Takahashi and others recently urged Justice Minister Keisuke Suzuki to expedite compensation from Aleph and maintain close surveillance of the group.

Survivors and their supporters argue that lessons from the incident have not been adequately shared with the public.

Shoko Egawa, a journalist and expert on Aum crimes, notes that attention has largely focused on the group’s crimes rather than educating people about avoiding dangerous cults. “There is still much to learn from (the Aum problems), including how they attracted followers, so that we can prevent people from getting their lives ruined by cults,” Egawa stated.

Takahashi recently launched a website featuring articles and comments from survivors, lawyers, and writers, including Haruki Murakami’s 2007 article about his 1997 book “Underground.”

Aum’s remnants

At its height, the cult had over 10,000 members in Japan and 30,000 in Russia and other locations. Although Aum has disbanded, approximately 1,600 individuals belonging to Aleph and two smaller groups in Japan continue to practice Asahara’s teachings, according to the Public Security Intelligence Agency, which monitors these groups.

Minoru Kariya, whose father was killed by Aum members in early 1995 while attempting to persuade his sister to leave the cult, believes that authorities need to take more action to address the threat.

“It’s alarming that they still exist, operate as organizations, and recruit new followers,” he said.

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