20 March 1995: Tokyo Subway Sarin Attack
On March 20, 1995, members of the Aum Shinrikyo cult released sarin nerve gas on five Tokyo subway lines during rush hour, killing 13 people and injuring thousands in the deadliest terrorist attack in Japanese history.
Cult members punctured plastic bags filled with liquid sarin using sharpened umbrella tips, releasing the deadly gas into crowded subway cars. The colorless, odorless nerve agent spread quickly through the confined spaces, causing passengers to collapse, convulse, and lose consciousness.
Emergency responders, initially unaware they were dealing with a chemical attack, rushed victims to hospitals across Tokyo. Medical facilities were overwhelmed with nearly 6,000 people seeking treatment—some genuinely exposed, others suffering from panic-induced symptoms.
Aum Shinrikyo, founded in 1984 by Shoko Asahara, had attracted thousands of followers with a blend of Buddhist and Hindu teachings mixed with apocalyptic prophecies. The cult had previously tested sarin and other chemical agents, killing eight people in a 1994 attack in Matsumoto.
Japanese authorities arrested Asahara and other cult leaders in the weeks following the attack. After two decades of legal proceedings, Asahara and twelve other cult members were executed in 2018.
The attack shattered Japan’s sense of security and prompted countries worldwide to reassess their preparedness for chemical terrorism.
