Japan marks 30 years since Tokyo subway sarin attack by AUM cult
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Tokyo — Japan on Thursday marked the 30th anniversary of the nerve gas attack on the Tokyo subway system by the AUM Shinrikyo doomsday cult, with the relatives of the victims striving to keep alive the memory of the worst terrorist attack on Japanese soil.
At Kasumigaseki Station in the Japanese capital, officials observed a moment of silence at around 8 a.m., the time when the deadly sarin nerve agent was released in train cars on March 20, 1995.
Shizue Takahashi, 78, who lost her husband, a deputy stationmaster at Kasumigaseki Station, in the attack, laid flowers at the site, and said, “It was a long 30 years. I don’t want people to forget about the incident.”
Sarin was dispersed in five subway train cars during the morning rush hour on the instruction of cult founder Shoko Asahara, killing 14 people and injuring over 6,000.
While the group has been disbanded, and Asahara and 12 former senior members executed, successor groups are still active. Some survivors still suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder and continuing health issues.
The attack caused havoc at the stations, including Kasumigaseki Station, located in an area with many government ministries and offices, and sent shock waves through a country that prided itself on safety.
Content retrieved from: https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2025/03/1122ec0dd0ef-japan-marks-30-years-since-tokyo-subway-sarin-attack-by-aum-cult.html.
