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Japan Intensifies Crackdown on Aum Shinrikyo Successor Cult Led by Asahara’s Son

The Public Security Intelligence Agency has sought extended restrictions after Saitama police seized tens of millions of yen in April raids.

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The 1995 terrorist attack was carried out by the Aum Shinrikyo movement, led by Shoko Asahara
Shizue Takahashi, whose husband Kazumasa Takahashi was killed in the sarin gas attack in 1995, holds his photo outside a subway station in Tokyo in February. Photo: AFP

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.