The Tokyo Subway Sarin Attacks 1995 – Part 2

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Jan 16, 2026

A detailed retelling of a coordinated sarin attack on Tokyo commuter trains during rush hour. Descriptions of how the attackers prepared, deployed crude dispersal methods, and boarded trains. Scenes of immediate chaos on platforms and hospitals overwhelmed by mysterious symptoms. Coverage of police raids, the arrest of the cult leader, survivor interviews, trials, and lasting impacts on victims and families.

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INSIGHT

Sarin Became The Cult's Central Weapon

Sarin was Aum's most feared weapon and the cult invested heavily in chemical production.
The Matsumoto attack marked Aum's transition into a terrorist organization.

ANECDOTE

Rush-Made Sarin And Packaging

Saichi Endo scrambled to produce sarin in under 48 hours and made an impure, brown batch.
Endo packaged 11 plastic pouches of roughly 20 ounces each for the subway attack.

INSIGHT

Targeting The City’s Political Nerve

The attackers targeted three major lines converging at Kasumigaseki to maximize casualties and political symbolism.
The plan aimed to hit government and business centers during rush hour.

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As the Japanese police prepare for a raid on the Aum Shinrikyo compound, cult leader Shoko Asahara launches a desperate chemical weapons attack in downtown Tokyo. During the height of Monday morning rush hour, Aum terrorists target five commuter trains with sarin gas, killing 13 people and scarring the psyche of an entire nation. In the aftermath, survivors struggle to pick up the pieces of their lives and adapt to new realities.

SOURCES:

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