Biography

Shoko Asahara (麻原 彰晃, Asahara Shōkō, March 2, 1955 – July 6, 2018) was a Japanese religious activist, political activist, terrorist, and former death row inmate. His real name was Matsumoto Chizuo (松本 智津夫, Matsumoto Chizuo). He was born in Yatsushiro City, Kumamoto Prefecture. He was the spiritual leader of Aum Shinrikyo (meaning "Supreme Truth"), a Japanese apocalyptic sect that syncretizes Buddhist and Christian elements which was accused of carrying out the sarin gas terrorist attacks on the Tokyo subway in 1995. He was sentenced to death as responsible for the attacks. After his execution was postponed in 2012 following the arrest of other suspects, he was executed by hanging on July 6, 2018.