Shoko Asahara

[[image:Shoko_Asahara.jpg|thumb|200px|Is that a beard or some sort of hood?]]
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{{nihongo|'''Shoko Asahara'''|麻原 彰晃|Asahara Shōkō}} {{lived|2 March 1955|6 July 2018}}, born {{nihongo4|'''Chizuo Matsumoto'''|松本 智津夫|Matsumoto Chizuo}}, was the founder of [[Aum Shinrikyo]] and the mastermind behind the Sarin gas attack on a Tokyo subway in 1995. Asahara was ultimately [[Capital punishment|executed]] for his crimes.

==Early life==
[[File:Shoko-asahara-yogic-flying.jpg|thumb|200px|Photo of Asahara in [[yogic flying|yogic flight]].]]

Asahara was born to a family of tatami mat makers in Kumamoto Prefecture. He was a victim of infantile glaucoma, which resulted in vision impairment. As a consequence, Asahara was sent to a school for the blind where he was reported as using his impaired vision to bully children who were worse off.

In 1977, Asahara graduated with a diploma in [[acupuncture]] and [[traditional Chinese medicine]]. These are traditional professions for the blind in [[Japan]]. 

Asahara married in 1978 and had a daughter.<ref>{{wpl|Shoko_Asahara | Asahara on Wikipedia}}</ref>

After graduating, Asahara applied at Tokyo University where he was declined entry. He went on to practice [[Traditional Chinese Medicine|Chinese medicine]].

==Religion==
Asahara studied [[New Age]] philosophy and began mixing ideas from different beliefs. This is what led to Aum Shinrikyo. After returning from [[India]] in 1987, Asahara preached to his followers that he had obtained [[enlightenment]]. Later that year he had his name legally changed.

Asahara's [[cult|"religion"]] targeted the rich as well as intellectuals. He preached that the world would be enveloped by wars, and only he could lead the way to salvation. Asahara preached over the radio and even sold his blood and bath water for his followers to drink. Aum Shinrikyo had around 10,000 followers in the mid-1990s.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3504237.stm BBC News: Shoko Asahara] February 27, 2004</ref>

==Crimes==
Asahara masterminded sarin gas attacks in Japan<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20040903201645/http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2004/s1055168.htm Sarin gas attack mastermind sentenced to death]</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150417000142/http://bioprepwatch.com/news/japan-denies-plea-by-sarin-gas-mastermind/215675/ Japan denies plea by sarin gas mastermind]</ref> as well as the Sakamoto family murder, where his followers killed an anti-Aum Shinrikyo lawyer and his family. 

In May 1995, Asahara was arrested on 27 murder counts and 17 charges on the actions of his followers. In 2004, he was sentenced to death by hanging. In 2006, the courts threw out his final appeal.

==Post conviction==
Some of his more devout followers still saw him as divine, resulting in a split in Aum Shinrikyo, now known as "Aleph".<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20020114101526/http://www.culteducation.com/asahara.html Cult Education and Recovery: Shoko Asahara and the Aum Gas Attack]</ref> In his final years in prison, reports stated that Asahara was confined to a wheelchair and unable to respond to anyone in an intelligent manner.

Asahara was finally put to death on the morning of July 6, 2018.<ref>[https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180706_13/ Sources:Former Aum Shinrikyo leader executed]</ref>

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20081201161606/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,982749-1,00.html Shoko Asahara: The Making of a Messiah] Part 1
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20081012151034/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,982749-2,00.html Shoko Asahara: The Making of a Messiah] Part 2

==References==
{{reflist|2|80%}}

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[[Category:Antisemites]]
[[Category:Cult leaders]]
[[Category:Conspiracy theorists]]
[[Category:Convicted felons]]
[[Category:Crank magnetism]]
[[Category:End of the world]]
[[Category:Messianic claimants]]
[[Category:New Age]]
[[Category:Racists]]
[[Category:Terrorists]]
[[Category:We're on a mission from God]]

Categories: Antisemites, Cult leaders, Conspiracy theorists, Convicted felons, Crank magnetism, End of the world, Messianic claimants, New Age, Racists, Terrorists, We're on a mission from God