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Founders Birth
Asahara Shōkō was born in 1955 as Matsumoto Chizuo -
Founding
'Aum Divine Wizard Association,' the predecessor of Aum Shinrikyo, was founded in Shibuya in 1984. -
the Death of the Sakamoto family
At their Yokohama home, Aum Shinriky members murder lawyer Sakamoto Tsutsumi, his wife Satoko, and their 1-year-old son Tatsuhiko. At the time of the murders, Sakamoto, an anticult expert, was working on a public relations campaign against Aum. Their bodies aren't discovered until September 1995, after Aum members arrested the previous year divulge their whereabouts. -
the Sarin Production
At its location in Kamikuishiki, Yamanashi Prefecture, Aum begins development on a plant to create the nerve poison Sarin. The factory isn't finished, but the cult is able to produce enough Sarin to utilize in future attacks. -
Searching all Aum Shinriky Locations
The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department has begun searching all Aum Shinrikyo locations. -
the Guilty is declared Innocent
Aum Shinrikyo has been declared dissolved by the Tokyo District Court. -
Tokyo Subway Sarin Attack
During Tokyo's early-morning rush hour, Aum Shinrikyo, a fanatical Japanese religious cult, sprayed Sarin, a lethal nerve gas, on five subway trains. A male cult member boarded each train with two or three tiny plastic bags filled with newspapers, then removed the newspaper and punctured the bags with a sharpened umbrella tip at a predetermined moment. People coughed, choked, had convulsions, and collapsed on the trains, in the stations where they stopped, and at the station exits. -
Discovered
Matsumoto is apprehended after being discovered hiding in a secret compartment at the Kamikuishiki property. -
Joyu Fumihiro
Joyu Fumihiro, a former Aum spokesman, has been released from prison. He returns to Aum and assumes command of the surviving troop. -
Renaming
The group officially renames itself Aleph. -
FIrst Death Sentence
Matsumoto is sentenced to death by the Tokyo District Court; his legal team is appealing the ruling. -
Appeal
The Tokyo High Court dismisses Matsumoto’s appeal. -
Japan Dismisses Matsumoto's Lawyers
The Supreme Court of Japan dismisses Matsumoto's lawyers' special appeal, declaring that he is sane and may be held accountable for his acts. This completes his sentence to death. -
Hikari no Wa
Joyu leaves Aleph and forms Hikari no Wa, a new group (Ring of Light). -
Capture of Kikuchi Naoko and Takahashi Katsuya
The remaining Aum criminal suspects on the run, Kikuchi Naoko and Takahashi Katsuya, are apprehended by police. -
New Group
From Aleph, a new splinter group emerges. It is based in Ishikawa Prefecture and is led by former Aum member Yamada Misako. -
Final Appeal
Takahashi's final appeal is denied, and he is sentenced to life in prison, bringing the final Aum-related trial to a close. -
Death Sentences
For their roles in the cult's criminal actions, 190 members of the sect were found guilty and sentenced, with 13 receiving death sentences. After Minister of Justice Kamikawa Yko signed the final orders, the first of these death penalties were carried out on July 6, 2018, with Matsumoto and six other convicts being executed. -
Death
In the early hours of the morning, Matsumoto and six of his supporters on death row are executed. Six Aum members are still on execution row, and officials are on the lookout for any signals of danger from the other Aum-affiliated organizations. -
Ministry of Justice
At a crematorium in Fuchu, Tokyo, Asahara's remains are cremated. Despite fears that his ashes could become the center of new cult activities, the Ministry of Justice is planning to send them over to one of his daughters.