On the morning of March 20th, 1995, a chemical nerve agent was released on 3 of Tokyo’s major subway lines during rush hour. At this year, 2025, marks the 30th anniversary of the infamous subway attack, let’s learn about what happened that day, the doomsday cult Aum Shinrikyo responsible for it, and what else the cult had done that led up to this horrific incident.
Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at conbinicultpod@gmail.com
Frankie - @franklinthewoman
Cheyenne - @lostwithlow
Words mentioned/useful words
地下鉄 chikatetsu - subway
事件 jiken - incident, occurrence
自衛隊 jieitai - self-defense force (SDF)
References:“Driver in Osaka arrested for ‘trying to kill’ school children” https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15740626
https://www.moj.go.jp/psia/25years_after_the_tokyo_subway_sarin_gas_attacks)
NHK Documentary- “The Tokyo Subway Sarin Attack: A Battle in the Shadows” https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/shows/5001453/
BCC Article on Aum https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-35975069
(Vice news coverage) https://youtu.be/_ssq96g-cfE?si=5JDfl4KvYSvgB9mV
Accidentally joined a cult: https://www.reddit.com/r/japanlife/comments/1kancez/accidentally_joined_a_cult/
Time stamps
00:00 hello/current events
8:52 Aum Shinrikyo/subway attack overview
12:00 Shoko Asahara’s upbringing
14:36 Aum Shinrikyo beginnings
26:56 things escalate
37:29 justice served?
40:45 aftermath
42:33 are they still active?
48:48 modern day cults