An in-depth study of the Tokyo Sarin Gas Attacks

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Dear Student,
Hello. I am assuming that the solution you are seeking for looks into the socio-psychological as well as the criminological aspects of the Sarin Gas attack by creating a semi-genealogical picture of the events leading up to it. There is no need to analyse Japanese culture as well as politics as the event itself, causes and effects are the points of focus. The solution below does that. If you feel the need to expand, please feel free to use the listed references. Good luck and thank you for using Brainmass.

Sincerely,
OTA 105878/Xenia Jones
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The Sarin Gas Attacks: A Study

On Aum Shinrikyo

In the bigger scheme of the ambitions and determination of the highly criminal and highly organized cult of Aum Shinrikyo (Supreme Truth), the Tokyo Subway Sarin Gas attacks of 1995 was just among the many attempts and part of the plan towards an estimated 'overthrow and decimation' of the Japanese society. Its leader - the once yogi instructor and extremely charismatic sociopath Shoko Asahara (born Chizuo Matsumoto) sought to gain financial as well as social influence by working closely with the Yakuza and indoctrinating as well as converting and 'generously tithing' recruited members that their operations spread globally from Russia to Africa. The group's political ambitions were based on that of their ambitious head - Asahara, but after having failed to enter politics in 1989, Asahara and his followers turned the other way instead - to destroy the society they wished to control. From 1990 towards 1995 they worked at gaining influence and 'investing' in easily indoctrinated bright minds - engineers, scientists as well as putting money in legitimate business fronts in Japan and elsewhere (in Russia, they indoctrinated and invested through the Moscow-Japan University through the efforts of young scientists and senior cult member Fumihiro Joyu in millions of dollars). Upon membership, the recruits lived in communes and gave all their savings and subsequent earnings to the cult being subject to the will of their leaders. Mind control as well as sleep and food deprivation is instituted regularly to keep members under cult command. All ties with the rest of the world, even family members are cut-off. Reality and interpretations of the world is what is dictated by Asahara and group leadership. As such, the cult had ready members willing to carry out any command. Their financial wealth was got by both legal and illegal means - bribing officials, harassment, fraud, illegal drugs and protection rackets with the Yakuza and computer stores, factories, restaurants, dormitories and retail as well as real estate mixed and served the ambitions of the cult's leaders and its followers. Their theology is a mix of Christian, Buddhist, Shaman and New Age beliefs - Asahara for instance indoctrinates members that he is the New Jesus Christ just as he is the New Buddha who sees a new Armageddon is necessary in the world. The criminal interests of the Yakuza with the cult is so entrenched with the cult's members - an estimated 40,000 - easily able to manufacture illegal drugs, out up front businesses and negotiate in behalf of the cult and the Yakuza as 'blemish-free' citizens. This connection was known among the Japanese law enforcement but not widely investigated or given full focus on due to Aum's reputation as a cult of considerable influence being valued at $1.5 billion dollars by 1995. Their network among the Yakuza and criminal elite especially that in relation to local government bribery (the Yakuza and Aum had an extortion operation wherein they threatened local governments of establishing cult presence in a city/town and to go away they had to be paid) could easily open a can of worms about Japanese social & political with the Yakuza having its own ties in the economics and politics of Japan. It seems that the cult towards it 'Doomsday Destructive Identity' after 1989 when the leaders lost in the elections with Asahara's megalomaniac psychosis becoming problematic for the Yakuza itself. Still, with the criminal ties still in place between the Yakuza and the cult, Asahara and his cronies ...