Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 18, 2001, Page 28
The Homicide of Attorney Sakamoto and his Wife and Child
Attorney Sakamoto represents all those who have become victims of Aum. Aum murdered
Sakamoto and his family because Sakamoto took rigorous measures to oppose the
organization. At the site of his homicide case (which at the time was labeled a kidnapping
case), a ―Prusha‖ (an Aum badge) was left behind. Even so, not until a very long period
after the incident actually occurred did the police finally acknowledge that this case was
criminal and that they neglected to conduct an investigation about Aum‘s involvement.
Because of this failure to act, perpetrators easily escaped or left the country, and dead
bodies and relevant evidence were easily concealed. As a result, this case was not disclosed
for nearly six years.
The Response of the Police to Various Crimes
Even after the murder of Attorney Sakamoto and his family, Aum compelled a large number
of its followers to leave their homes and live and work in Aum communes. Aum also made
high-handed efforts to collect money.
Throughout Japan Aum caused trouble and many problems. Complaints and reports of
damage regarding Aum‘s conduct—including Aum‘s forceful demands, its illegal transfer of
residences throughout Japan, its confinement of children, and its installation of wire-tapping
devices—were delivered to the police time and time again. However, the police conducted
almost no investigations regarding these complaints and reports, thereby avoiding action
against the group, as Aum was a religion.
The Abduction of a Manager of a Japanese Traditional Style Inn. In March 1994, Aum
believers drugged and abducted the manager of a Japanese inn in Kobayashi City in
Miyazaki Prefecture (Kyushyu). One of the abductors was his natural daughter. A large
amount of evidence pertaining to this case was amassed demonstrating that this was a case
of abduction vis-à-vis Aum to obtain the estate (financial assets) of the said manager.
However, in response to the rescue pleas submitted by the family members of the manager,
the police as well as the prosecutors failed to take action since the manager was ―with his
daughter who was an Aum believer.‖ A compulsory investigation of this case was conducted
only after the Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway system.
The Matsumoto Sarin Incident. In April 1993, Asahara repeatedly made statements in
his sermons about the use of Sarin. At the same time, Asahara established front companies
to purchase the raw materials to make Sarin and proceeded to manufacture Sarin within the
Aum facilities in various locales throughout Japan. Aum persuaded its followers to believe
that ―the national power of Japan and the US military forces planned to launch a gas
attack,‖ and filled the followers with fear of Armageddon. Followers were required to wear
gas masks, and air-cleaning devices were installed at the facilities to intensify fears.
In April 1994, our Group of Lawyers in Opposition to the Victimization and Damages
perpetrated by the Aum Shinrikyo reported Asahara‘s sermons and statements regarding
the use of Sarin to the Kanagawa Prefectural Police. The police responded without due
consideration of our report. The police also failed to conduct any surveillance of Aum prior
to or following our report. As a result, on 27 June 1994, the Aum terrorist Matsumoto Sarin
Incident occurred against a judge, and the tragedy of this incident, which resulted in seven
deaths and hundreds of casualties, could not be prevented. Following the Matsumoto Sarin
Incident, in July 1994, the people in the surrounding area of an Aum facility (#7 Satayan)
located in Kamikuishiki-mura (village) in Yamanashi Prefecture, complained of a strange
odor similar to that of Sarin. However, the Nagano Prefectural Police, and the police as a
whole, had no information regarding Aum, and thus could not conclude that this incident
was related to the Matsumoto Sarin Incident at the time.
The Homicide of Attorney Sakamoto and his Wife and Child
Attorney Sakamoto represents all those who have become victims of Aum. Aum murdered
Sakamoto and his family because Sakamoto took rigorous measures to oppose the
organization. At the site of his homicide case (which at the time was labeled a kidnapping
case), a ―Prusha‖ (an Aum badge) was left behind. Even so, not until a very long period
after the incident actually occurred did the police finally acknowledge that this case was
criminal and that they neglected to conduct an investigation about Aum‘s involvement.
Because of this failure to act, perpetrators easily escaped or left the country, and dead
bodies and relevant evidence were easily concealed. As a result, this case was not disclosed
for nearly six years.
The Response of the Police to Various Crimes
Even after the murder of Attorney Sakamoto and his family, Aum compelled a large number
of its followers to leave their homes and live and work in Aum communes. Aum also made
high-handed efforts to collect money.
Throughout Japan Aum caused trouble and many problems. Complaints and reports of
damage regarding Aum‘s conduct—including Aum‘s forceful demands, its illegal transfer of
residences throughout Japan, its confinement of children, and its installation of wire-tapping
devices—were delivered to the police time and time again. However, the police conducted
almost no investigations regarding these complaints and reports, thereby avoiding action
against the group, as Aum was a religion.
The Abduction of a Manager of a Japanese Traditional Style Inn. In March 1994, Aum
believers drugged and abducted the manager of a Japanese inn in Kobayashi City in
Miyazaki Prefecture (Kyushyu). One of the abductors was his natural daughter. A large
amount of evidence pertaining to this case was amassed demonstrating that this was a case
of abduction vis-à-vis Aum to obtain the estate (financial assets) of the said manager.
However, in response to the rescue pleas submitted by the family members of the manager,
the police as well as the prosecutors failed to take action since the manager was ―with his
daughter who was an Aum believer.‖ A compulsory investigation of this case was conducted
only after the Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway system.
The Matsumoto Sarin Incident. In April 1993, Asahara repeatedly made statements in
his sermons about the use of Sarin. At the same time, Asahara established front companies
to purchase the raw materials to make Sarin and proceeded to manufacture Sarin within the
Aum facilities in various locales throughout Japan. Aum persuaded its followers to believe
that ―the national power of Japan and the US military forces planned to launch a gas
attack,‖ and filled the followers with fear of Armageddon. Followers were required to wear
gas masks, and air-cleaning devices were installed at the facilities to intensify fears.
In April 1994, our Group of Lawyers in Opposition to the Victimization and Damages
perpetrated by the Aum Shinrikyo reported Asahara‘s sermons and statements regarding
the use of Sarin to the Kanagawa Prefectural Police. The police responded without due
consideration of our report. The police also failed to conduct any surveillance of Aum prior
to or following our report. As a result, on 27 June 1994, the Aum terrorist Matsumoto Sarin
Incident occurred against a judge, and the tragedy of this incident, which resulted in seven
deaths and hundreds of casualties, could not be prevented. Following the Matsumoto Sarin
Incident, in July 1994, the people in the surrounding area of an Aum facility (#7 Satayan)
located in Kamikuishiki-mura (village) in Yamanashi Prefecture, complained of a strange
odor similar to that of Sarin. However, the Nagano Prefectural Police, and the police as a
whole, had no information regarding Aum, and thus could not conclude that this incident
was related to the Matsumoto Sarin Incident at the time.
