Shoko Asahara

Quick Facts: Who was Shoko Asahara?

Subject:

Shoko Asahara

Known for:

Japanese cult leader who founded Aum Shinrikyo; convicted for the 1995 Tokyo subway sarin gas attack.

Born:

1955-03-02

Died:

2018-07-06

Century / Era:

1955s Historical Era Archive

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Shoko Asahara (麻原 彰晃, Asahara Shōkō; March 2, 1955 – July 6, 2018), born as Chizuo Matsumoto (松本 智津夫, Matsumoto Chizuo), was a Japanese cult leader and domestic terrorist who founded and led the doomsday cult known as Aum Shinrikyo. He was convicted of masterminding the 1995 sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway which killed 14 people and injured thousands more, and was also involved in several other assassinations and terrorist attacks. Asahara was sentenced to death in 2004, and his final appeal failed in 2011. In June 2012, his execution was postponed due to further arrests of Aum members. He was executed along with other senior members of Aum Shinrikyo on July 6, 2018.

Career & Major Achievements

Chizuo Matsumoto was born on March 2, 1955, the fourth son of a large, poor family of tatami-mat-makers in Kumamoto Prefecture. He had infantile glaucoma from birth, which made him lose all sight in his left eye and go partially blind in his right eye at a young age. He was enrolled in a school for the blind when he was 6 years old, since he could not continue the family trade. He never lived with his family again. Matsumoto discovered a way to earn money by directing other kids to a candy store, and as he was the only student in the school still capable of having some vision, this led to him becoming somewhat well-liked.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

However, he was also known to be a bully, taking advantage of the other students by beating and extorting money from them. During his adolescence, Matsumoto developed a fantasy about ruling a kingdom of robots with total power, and confided in his schoolmates about his aspiration to become Prime Minister of Japan. He graduated in 1973 and applied to Faculty of Law of University of Tokyo, but was rejected. He then turned to the study of acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine, which were common careers for the blind in Japan, and he established a Chinese medicine shop outside Tokyo. Asahara married the following year and eventually fathered six children, the eldest of whom was born in 1978.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1955 (1955-03-02): Birth of Shoko Asahara — Japanese cult leader who founded Aum Shinrikyo; convicted for the 1995 Tokyo subway sarin gas attack.
2. 1973: 1973 Milestone — He graduated in 1973 and applied to Faculty of Law of University of Tokyo, but was rejected.
3. 1978: 1978 Milestone — Asahara married the following year and eventually fathered six children, the eldest of whom was born in 1978.
4. 1995: 1995 Milestone — He was convicted of masterminding the 1995 sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway which killed 14 people and injured thousands more, and was also involved in several other assassinations and terrorist attacks.
5. 2004: 2004 Milestone — Asahara was sentenced to death in 2004, and his final appeal failed in 2011.
6. 2012: 2012 Milestone — In June 2012, his execution was postponed due to further arrests of Aum members.
7. 2018 (2018-07-06): Passing & Historical Legacy — Shoko Asahara passed away on 2018-07-06, leaving an enduring historical legacy.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Shoko Asahara

True or False: “Shoko Asahara was initially known by his birth name, Chizuo Matsumoto, before adopting a new spiritual identity.”

Answer (TRUE ⭕): He was born as Chizuo Matsumoto and later adopted the name Shoko Asahara during his religious pursuits.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Akiko Yano — Contemporary (Born in 1955) (1955): Pioneering Japanese jazz and pop singer known for her eclectic style.
• Akira Toriyama — Contemporary (Born in 1955) (1955): Pioneering manga artist, creator of Dr. Slump and the global phenomenon, Dragon Ball.
• Al Waleed bin Talal Al Saud — Contemporary (Born in 1955) (1955): Saudi billionaire, investor, and influential member of the House of Saud.
• Aaron Klug — Contemporary (Died in 2018) (2018): Pioneering biophysicist known for crystallographic electron microscopy and nucleic acid structure.
• Alan Bean — Contemporary (Died in 2018) (2018): American astronaut, naval officer, and lunar explorer who walked on the Moon.
• Alexander Zakharchenko — Contemporary (Died in 2018) (2018): Pro-Russian separatist leader and head of the Donetsk People's Republic.
• Abdelaziz Bouteflika — Shared historical date (03-02 · Born) (1937): Algerian politician who served as the seventh President of Algeria from 1999 to 2019.
• Anthony Albanese — Shared historical date (03-02 · Born) (1963): Australian politician who served as the 31st Prime Minister of Australia since 2022.
• 14th Dalai Lama — Shared historical date (07-06 · Born) (1935): Spiritual leader of Tibet and head of Tibetan Buddhism since 1940.
• 50 Cent — Shared historical date (07-06 · Born) (1975): Iconic rapper, actor, and entrepreneur known for raw storytelling and business acumen.
• 1955 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1955
• March 2 (03-02) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on March 2
• 2018 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2018
• July 6 (07-06) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on July 6

Frequently Asked Questions about Shoko Asahara