Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 18, 2001, Page 26
The Crimes and Teachings of Aum Shinrikyo
Hiroshi Hirata, Attorney at Law
Heiwa-No-Mori Law Office
Abstract
The beliefs and crimes of Shoko Asahara‘s Aum Shinrikyo and societal
responses, police in particular, are reviewed. It is concluded that the most
important lesson to be derived from the case of Aum is that authorities must
be prepared to enforce existing laws when violated by religious organizations
as vigorously as they do when violated by nonreligious organizations.
Aum Shinrikyo is a Buddhist-type religious group whose teacher and leader is Chizuo
Matsumoto, known most commonly as Shoko Asahara (his Aum Shinrikyo name). Aum
Shinrikyo began as a small yoga center in a local area. The group gradually grew over time
and began to organize. It officially took the name ―Aum Shinrikyo‖ in 1987, when it legally
became a religious corporation.
Aum Shinrikyo (hereinafter Aum) claims to be a ―Buddhist religious group, which worships
Siva as its main God.‖ In reality, however, the special character of Aum‘s teachings has to
do with ―supernatural powers‖ and the ―end of the world ideology.‖ Aum teaches that:
1. If people obey and act based on the secret teachings emanating from Tibet ages ago
and according to the guidance and leadership of Asahara, then those people can in a
number of years be ―emancipated from the world‖ and gain supernatural powers.
2. Based on its interpretation and analysis of the Book of Revelations (John) in the New
Testament of the Christian Bible, Armageddon or the Third World War would occur in
1999. Therefore, Aum‘s philosophy maintained that if several tens of thousands of
people could be emancipated and gain supernatural powers vis-à-vis Asahara‘s
guidance, then the number of people who perished at Armageddon would decrease.
Asahara called himself the Christ, the Prophet, the last Savior of this Century.
In the past Asahara prophesized that before long Mt. Fugi would erupt and Japan would
sink into the ocean. When this prophecy failed, Aum claimed that Asahara‘s
supernatural power had deferred the prophesied havoc. The failure of Asahara‘s
prophecy that the Third World War would begin in 1999, however, currently awaits an
―explanation‖ since Asahara, who has been in jail since 1995, has not commented.
Aum claims to have about 30,000 followers, but in reality about 10,000 people Actually
subscribe to Aum, with only a few thousand believers leaving their homes to become Aum
members. It should be noted, however, that following Aum‘s Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo
Metropolitan Subway System, over half of Aum believers left the group. At present, Aum‘s
estimated membership is 1,000, with several hundreds of these believers leaving their
homes to join Aum. In 1995, Aum had facilities in 12 different cities throughout Japan as
well as other branches in New York, Bonn, and Moscow.
Aum’s Ambitions and Crimes
Asahara’s Ambitions
Asahara and Aum aimed to conquer the world, meaning that the purpose of the ―Japan
Shanbara-ization plan‖ was to establish Aum in cities throughout Japan and make and
expand Aum communities (Lotus Villages) in various areas of the country. It was Asahara‘s
ambition to ―Shanbara-ize‖ or ―Aum-ize‖ the world.

Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 18, 2001, Page 27
Asahara appealed to his followers by saying, ―The day of final destruction is coming and this
plan must be carried out as quickly as possible.‖ He ordered them to leave their homes to
follow Aum and to gather large amounts of offerings or donations.
Asahara’s Homicide Theory
Aum/Asahara created a theory of evil that professed the following three major ideas:
1. Aum will save humankind from destruction.
2. Any person or thing that opposes Aum is evil.
3. If people who commit evil acts are allowed to continue living, then more evil acts will be
perpetrated.
Accordingly, it is beneficial to rid this world of these evil spirits so that they can be
reincarnated for the coming world. Based on this theory, Aum took measures to kill those
persons who opposed Aum. Asahara called homicides based on this theory ―Poa‖ and taught
his followers that ―Poa‖ was ―an act to save human souls.‖
Aum's murder in November 1989 of Attorney Sakamoto, his wife, and his child was a crime
based on this ―theory of evil.‖ Also based on this theory were all of the homicide or near
homicide cases Aum followers perpetrated following this incident up until 1995. These cases
included the Matsumoto Sarin Incident (pursued by the courts), in which seven people died
and over 100 people suffered injuries the Tokyo Subway Sarin gas incident (mainly
pursued by the police), in which 12 people died and over 5,000 people suffered injuries and
various terrorist type cases perpetrated against journalists and lawyers opposing Aum.
Although such activities carried out according to Asahara‘s orders created problems in
various areas throughout Japan, these activities strengthened the exclusive and willful
consciousnesses of victims and bolstered the way of thinking (among its members) that
―anyone who criticizes Aum is an enemy.‖
Lessons from the Aum Cases:
Responsibilities of the Police
Introduction
From the homicide incident involving the deaths of the attorney Sakamoto and his family on
4 November 1989 onward, Aum‘s acts became increasingly heinous. The religious group
perpetrated acts such as abductions and homicides, illegal confinement of individuals, fraud,
document forgery, illegal production of firearms, and the use of prescription or otherwise
illegal pharmaceuticals. On 20 March 1995, Aum instigated the Tokyo Metropolitan Subway
Sarin Gas attack, a criminal act against humanity never before witnessed in the history of
crime.
Given this chain of events, we must ask how such heinous crimes could have been
overlooked. Further, we must question what enabled Aum to increase and grow to the
extent that an incident such as the Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway system could
occur.
Various influential and powerful bodies within Japanese society assumed responsibility for
allowing Aum‘s growth and perpetration of heinous crimes. These bodies include the
administrative government, the tax authority, the media, religious scholars, and established
religious organizations and institutions. However, the Japanese police hold the majority of
the responsibility.