Shoko Asahara
Actor
- Born
- March 2, 1955 · Yatsushiro, Kumamoto, Japan
- Died
- July 6, 2018 (age 63)
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.
Known for
Acting5
- 2025AUM: The Cult at the End of the World as Self (archive footage)
- 2021Me and the Cult Leader: A Modern Report on the Banality of Evil
- 1998Killer Cults - Blinded By The Light
- 1991Shoko Asahara with Takeshi as Self
- 1991Genesis as Self