Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 1, No. 2, 2002, Page 38
In January, three Russian cult members were sent to jail for plotting to bomb Japanese
cities during the Okinawa G8 Summit in July 2000 in a plot to free Asahara from jail. Justice
Minister Mayumi Moriyama said earlier this month that the cult was still dangerous and
needed to be watched. The U.S. government has frozen its assets since September 11th.
Armageddon remains a key component of the group's philosophy. ..Although the group
deposed Asahara as leader in 2000, Joyu told the BBC afterward that he still approves of
"our exalted teacher Asahara's spiritual practices.‖ The notion that the world was near
destruction and its members were the chosen few was always one of Aum's core attractions.
As ex-member Shinichi Hosoi told author Haruki Murakami, "What I liked most about the
Aum books was that they clearly said that the world is evil. I was happy when I heard that.
I'd always thought that the world was unfair and might as well be destroyed." (Irish Times,
4/6/02, Internet)
Second Documentary on Aum
Tatsuya Mori has made a second video documentary on Aum Shinrikyo, titled ―A2.‖ The
production, which includes live coverage of Aum daily activities, and interviews with Aum
members, clearly shows the hostility of much of Japanese society, including the press,
toward the ―cult.‖ Mori‘s work also makes clear that Aum, now calling itself Aleph, promotes
a complete separation from the material world, which means, ultimately, that followers
must break all ties with family and friends. This is the aspect of the group's faith that most
disturbs the average Japanese. One interviewee laments that "We seem to attract a lot of
depressives.‖
Mori says that Aleph "is a potentially dangerous organization, since they are so pure and
virtuous. But society in general has the same potential, especially right now, and I think we
have to face up to that. The Japanese have a strong tendency to allow the group to think for
them. I mean, more people died from AIDS as a result of callous official policies in the
1980s than those who died at the hands of Aum, which doesn't diminish what Asahara did,
but it's something we need to think about." (Masako Tsubuki and Philip Brasor, Japan
Times, 3/27/02)
Senior Aum Member Gets 10 Years for Killing Colleague
A Tokyo District Court has given Senior Aum member Shinichi Koshikawa, 37, a 10-year
prison sentence for conspiring with other followers to kill Kotaro Ochida, a cult pharmacist
who tried to help a sick disciple escape. Koshikawa, who headed the sect's self-styled
"commerce department," and who still believes in cult guru Shoko Asahara, had pleaded not
guilty, denying his and Asahara's role in the killing. (The Age, Melbourne, 3/25/02, Internet)
Aum Guru Asahara’s Trial
The defense has finally begun its arguments in the trial of Aum Shinrikyo founder and
former leader Shoko Asahara on murder and other charges related to the 1995 Tokyo
subway sarin gas attack, and other cases. The trial began more than six years ago, and it
was only in January that the prosecution finished presenting their case, which accused
Asahara of 13 crimes, including seven murders. The defense, which is expected to take at
least a year, will contest the prosecution claim, based on the testimony of Asahara‘s
lieutenants, that he issued orders for former senior Aum members to commit the crimes.
Asahara has refused to consult with his court appointed lawyers during the course of the
trial. (Kyodo New Service, 5/23/02, Internet)
Leader Asahara Says He Was “Misunderstood”
Aum Shinrikyo guru Shoko Asahara finally opened his defense of charges that he
masterminded the deadly sarin gas attacks on the Tokyo subway in 1994. Asahara says that
his doctrine did not justify murder, and that it was misunderstood by his disciples. His
In January, three Russian cult members were sent to jail for plotting to bomb Japanese
cities during the Okinawa G8 Summit in July 2000 in a plot to free Asahara from jail. Justice
Minister Mayumi Moriyama said earlier this month that the cult was still dangerous and
needed to be watched. The U.S. government has frozen its assets since September 11th.
Armageddon remains a key component of the group's philosophy. ..Although the group
deposed Asahara as leader in 2000, Joyu told the BBC afterward that he still approves of
"our exalted teacher Asahara's spiritual practices.‖ The notion that the world was near
destruction and its members were the chosen few was always one of Aum's core attractions.
As ex-member Shinichi Hosoi told author Haruki Murakami, "What I liked most about the
Aum books was that they clearly said that the world is evil. I was happy when I heard that.
I'd always thought that the world was unfair and might as well be destroyed." (Irish Times,
4/6/02, Internet)
Second Documentary on Aum
Tatsuya Mori has made a second video documentary on Aum Shinrikyo, titled ―A2.‖ The
production, which includes live coverage of Aum daily activities, and interviews with Aum
members, clearly shows the hostility of much of Japanese society, including the press,
toward the ―cult.‖ Mori‘s work also makes clear that Aum, now calling itself Aleph, promotes
a complete separation from the material world, which means, ultimately, that followers
must break all ties with family and friends. This is the aspect of the group's faith that most
disturbs the average Japanese. One interviewee laments that "We seem to attract a lot of
depressives.‖
Mori says that Aleph "is a potentially dangerous organization, since they are so pure and
virtuous. But society in general has the same potential, especially right now, and I think we
have to face up to that. The Japanese have a strong tendency to allow the group to think for
them. I mean, more people died from AIDS as a result of callous official policies in the
1980s than those who died at the hands of Aum, which doesn't diminish what Asahara did,
but it's something we need to think about." (Masako Tsubuki and Philip Brasor, Japan
Times, 3/27/02)
Senior Aum Member Gets 10 Years for Killing Colleague
A Tokyo District Court has given Senior Aum member Shinichi Koshikawa, 37, a 10-year
prison sentence for conspiring with other followers to kill Kotaro Ochida, a cult pharmacist
who tried to help a sick disciple escape. Koshikawa, who headed the sect's self-styled
"commerce department," and who still believes in cult guru Shoko Asahara, had pleaded not
guilty, denying his and Asahara's role in the killing. (The Age, Melbourne, 3/25/02, Internet)
Aum Guru Asahara’s Trial
The defense has finally begun its arguments in the trial of Aum Shinrikyo founder and
former leader Shoko Asahara on murder and other charges related to the 1995 Tokyo
subway sarin gas attack, and other cases. The trial began more than six years ago, and it
was only in January that the prosecution finished presenting their case, which accused
Asahara of 13 crimes, including seven murders. The defense, which is expected to take at
least a year, will contest the prosecution claim, based on the testimony of Asahara‘s
lieutenants, that he issued orders for former senior Aum members to commit the crimes.
Asahara has refused to consult with his court appointed lawyers during the course of the
trial. (Kyodo New Service, 5/23/02, Internet)
Leader Asahara Says He Was “Misunderstood”
Aum Shinrikyo guru Shoko Asahara finally opened his defense of charges that he
masterminded the deadly sarin gas attacks on the Tokyo subway in 1994. Asahara says that
his doctrine did not justify murder, and that it was misunderstood by his disciples. His
