Overview

• Shoko Asahara’s second son has directed Aleph operations since 2014 and declared himself a guru in 2017, strengthening his grip on the group’s 1,190 followers across 20 facilities.
• The PSIA has moved to extend legal curbs on Aleph, citing its failure to meet reporting obligations and seeking to bar the cult from using a Koshigaya apartment.
• Saitama police searched the leader’s residence in April, uncovering tens of millions of yen and launching inquiries into the cult’s clandestine funding.
• Security officials warn that Aleph remains highly secretive and deceptive, hampering oversight and raising concerns about potential mass-violence capabilities.
• Victims’ relatives, including widow Shizue Takahashi, caution that fading public awareness of the 1995 sarin attacks could pave the way for a dangerous revival.