Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 18, 2001, Page 29
Following the Matsumoto Sarin Incident. Pursuant to the Matsumoto Sarin Incident, the
heinous nature and acts of Aum Shinrikyo increased and deepened at an unprecedented
rate. The ―Lawyers Group to Formulate Counter Measures to Injuries and Damages caused
by Aum Shinrikyo‖ reported to the Kanagawa Prefectural Police in September 1994 that
Aum had begun to use LSD type substances as part of its initiation process to the
organization. The same Lawyer‘s Group also reported in October 1994 a lynching incident
that occurred at an Aum facility. Further, on 20 September 1994, Journalist Shoko Egawa
suffered a poison gas attack by Aum, and on 4 January 1995, Chairman Nagaoka of the
―Victims of Aum Shinrikyo Group‖ was attacked with VX gas and nearly died.
In November 1994, a sample of the soil from the vicinity of Aum‘s #7 Satayan facility in
Kamikuishiki-mura (Yamanashi Prefecture) revealed the composition of Methylphospone
Acid Monoisopropyll. By the end of 1994, it was discovered that an Aum-owned company
had purchased large quantities of PAM, a Sarin detoxifying agent.
Although the police probably planned to initiate a compulsory investigation at a much earlier
stage, such an investigation was delayed mainly due to the poor compilation and exchange
of information and communications among Prefectural police agencies. The investigation
was also prolonged because of other serious issues, such as dealing with the Kobe
Earthquake in January 1995 and the Japanese General Elections. Finally, after the Sarin gas
attack on the Tokyo Metropolitan Subway system, which aimed at attacking the Japanese
National Police Agency, a compulsory investigation was initiated.
Lessons
The Japanese police deserve blame for not assuming responsibility in taking measures
against Aum Shinrikyo. If the police had made Aum a serious object of its investigations and
had placed Aum under surveillance, the police could have responded appropriately and
correctly to the Matsumoto Sarin Incident. At the very least, if the police had responded in
good faith to the abduction of the manager of a Japanese Inn in Miyazaki Prefecture, in
which a sufficient amount of evidence had been gathered as a result of a compulsory
investigation, the Tokyo Subway Sarin Gas attack incident most likely could have been
avoided.
In December 1999, new laws were enacted in Japan, which provide for restrictions and
surveillance of organizations and members of those organizations that perpetrate
indiscriminate acts of homicide against the population. These laws, which target mainly
Aum, have been called the ―Aum Counter-Policy Laws.‖ However, they have drawn strong
criticism from opponents, who believe that the laws violate freedom of religion. We lawyers,
who have been fighting Aum over a long period of time, consider these laws to be
problematic and ineffective in helping religious group members leave their respective
organizations and in providing them with the means for their social rehabilitation.
The lesson to be learned by Japanese politicians and government personnel from the Aum
incidents is that they need not enact new legislation, but should instead stop using the fact
that an organization is religious to avoid taking appropriate counter action, to make full use
of existing laws, and to respond resolutely to each and every unlawful act perpetrated by
cult groups.
**********
Hiroshi Hirata is an attorney with the Heiwa-No-Mori Law Office in Fukuoka, Japan. He is
a member of the Group of Lawyers in Opposition to the Victimization and Damages of the
AUM Shinri-kyo (AUM Supreme Truth cult), an organization with approximately 300 member
lawyers. He is also a member (former chair) of the Subcommittee on Consumers and
Religious Organizations under the Committee on Consumer Problems of the Japan
Following the Matsumoto Sarin Incident. Pursuant to the Matsumoto Sarin Incident, the
heinous nature and acts of Aum Shinrikyo increased and deepened at an unprecedented
rate. The ―Lawyers Group to Formulate Counter Measures to Injuries and Damages caused
by Aum Shinrikyo‖ reported to the Kanagawa Prefectural Police in September 1994 that
Aum had begun to use LSD type substances as part of its initiation process to the
organization. The same Lawyer‘s Group also reported in October 1994 a lynching incident
that occurred at an Aum facility. Further, on 20 September 1994, Journalist Shoko Egawa
suffered a poison gas attack by Aum, and on 4 January 1995, Chairman Nagaoka of the
―Victims of Aum Shinrikyo Group‖ was attacked with VX gas and nearly died.
In November 1994, a sample of the soil from the vicinity of Aum‘s #7 Satayan facility in
Kamikuishiki-mura (Yamanashi Prefecture) revealed the composition of Methylphospone
Acid Monoisopropyll. By the end of 1994, it was discovered that an Aum-owned company
had purchased large quantities of PAM, a Sarin detoxifying agent.
Although the police probably planned to initiate a compulsory investigation at a much earlier
stage, such an investigation was delayed mainly due to the poor compilation and exchange
of information and communications among Prefectural police agencies. The investigation
was also prolonged because of other serious issues, such as dealing with the Kobe
Earthquake in January 1995 and the Japanese General Elections. Finally, after the Sarin gas
attack on the Tokyo Metropolitan Subway system, which aimed at attacking the Japanese
National Police Agency, a compulsory investigation was initiated.
Lessons
The Japanese police deserve blame for not assuming responsibility in taking measures
against Aum Shinrikyo. If the police had made Aum a serious object of its investigations and
had placed Aum under surveillance, the police could have responded appropriately and
correctly to the Matsumoto Sarin Incident. At the very least, if the police had responded in
good faith to the abduction of the manager of a Japanese Inn in Miyazaki Prefecture, in
which a sufficient amount of evidence had been gathered as a result of a compulsory
investigation, the Tokyo Subway Sarin Gas attack incident most likely could have been
avoided.
In December 1999, new laws were enacted in Japan, which provide for restrictions and
surveillance of organizations and members of those organizations that perpetrate
indiscriminate acts of homicide against the population. These laws, which target mainly
Aum, have been called the ―Aum Counter-Policy Laws.‖ However, they have drawn strong
criticism from opponents, who believe that the laws violate freedom of religion. We lawyers,
who have been fighting Aum over a long period of time, consider these laws to be
problematic and ineffective in helping religious group members leave their respective
organizations and in providing them with the means for their social rehabilitation.
The lesson to be learned by Japanese politicians and government personnel from the Aum
incidents is that they need not enact new legislation, but should instead stop using the fact
that an organization is religious to avoid taking appropriate counter action, to make full use
of existing laws, and to respond resolutely to each and every unlawful act perpetrated by
cult groups.
**********
Hiroshi Hirata is an attorney with the Heiwa-No-Mori Law Office in Fukuoka, Japan. He is
a member of the Group of Lawyers in Opposition to the Victimization and Damages of the
AUM Shinri-kyo (AUM Supreme Truth cult), an organization with approximately 300 member
lawyers. He is also a member (former chair) of the Subcommittee on Consumers and
Religious Organizations under the Committee on Consumer Problems of the Japan
