Thirty years ago, March 20, 1995, marked one of Japan’s darkest days — when the Aum Shinrikyo doomsday cult unleashed a deadly sarin gas attack on Tokyo’s subway system. In this episode of Japan Today Spotlight, we look back on the 30th anniversary of the attack, explore the devastating effects on the victims, its societal impact and how Japan remembers this tragic event today. We also reflect on the ongoing threat posed by cults — here in Japan and abroad — and the importance of staying informed and vigilant.
Chapters:
- 0:00 Topic overview
- 1:05 Terror on the subway
- 3:12 How media coverage changed
- 4:19 Aum by any other name is still Aum
- 5:21 Memories have not gone away
- 6:29 Many victims still feel effects
- 7:05 Warning about cults
- 9:26 Outro: The legacy of Aum
Read more:
- https://japantoday.com/category/crime/japan-victims-voice-fears-30-years-after-sarin-subway-attack
- https://japantoday.com/category/crime/victims-of-1995-aum-sarin-attack-struggling-with-ptsd-survey-shows
- https://japantoday.com/category/national/unification-church-faces-dissolution-in-japan
- https://japantoday.com/category/features/lifestyle/why-are-there-so-many-cults-in-japan
- https://japantoday.com/category/crime/japan-cult-widow-speaks-30-years-after-subway-attack
- Public Security Intelligence Agency digital archive of Aum Shinrikyo and its crimes:
- https://www.moj.go.jp/psia/aumarchive
Join the conversation!
- For those who have lived in (or visited) Japan since: How has the legacy of the Tokyo sarin gas attacks influenced daily life, public safety and the way people view security? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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The views and opinions expressed in this video are those of the host and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of GPlusMedia, Inc.
© Japan Today
8 Comments
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WA4TKG
That was quite a sight seeing the guy in Full MOP hosing off the platform as the train passed Kasumigaseki without stopping
Marc Lowe
Unfortunately, the attack illustrates Japan's propensity for domestic terrorism. But, somehow, Japan is made out to be safer than other countries where terrorism has happened. Still compared to natural disasters, the fatalities total is way lower. Just hope people can be vigilant and prevent more attacks, random stabbings, and assassinations of unpopular politicians.
Aoi Azuuri
another form of "cult" groups who blindly faith basisless delusion of "influencers" and disregard even lives of people are rampant through social media at present Japanese society.
what is worse, now those have influential power to politics unlike Aum cult.
1glenn
There is an expression along the lines of "Do not judge a person until you have walked a mile in their shoes."
And yet, some actions are so immediately disgusting that I cannot see myself ever trying to "see" things from the other person's point of view. Releasing Sarin gas in public is one of those things that I will never understands, that I cannot try to understand.
1glenn
On the subject of trying to understand the reasoning of those who committed the Sarin attacks in Japan, as a child I used to think that it was possible to understand and reason with the German Nazis, the ones from World War II who inflicted so much destruction and pain upon human civilization. After traveling to post-war Germany and meeting some honest to goodness Nazis, I came to the realization that I would never, ever, understand them, but that it was very important to understand that they are real, and that they need to be stopped. That conclusion is as true today as it was then. We do not have to understand evil to fight it.
YeahRight
I haven't watched the video. Has the editing gotten any better, or do they still jump around after every sentence?
stickman1760
Still jumping around
no idea why they do that
starpunk
Terroristic actions are always disgusting and indefensible because they kill innocent people who did nothing. That same year in the USA there was the OKC Federal bombing, and the NRA head Wayne LaPierre praised it with his lies and hysterical sass and greed for more money.
At least Japan took steps to prevent more of this sick crazy crap. But the US is now a terroristic fearmonger nation run by a motormouth Musk-loving Mussolini full of hatred and evil.
What have we learned, Charlie Brown? It looks like maybe Japan learned something. Maybe.