On the 31st anniversary of the Tokyo subway sarin attack, families of victims and station staff gathered at Kasumigaseki Station to pay their respects.
On March 20, 2026, Japan marked the 31st anniversary of the devastating subway sarin attack carried out by the Aum Shinrikyo cult in 1995. At the Kasumigaseki Station in Chiyoda, Tokyo, station staff held a moment of silence to honor the victims of this heinous act. This station was one of the locations where the attack unfolded, making the commemoration particularly poignant for those involved.
Among those paying their respects was Shizue Takahashi, who lost her husband, Ikemasa, during the incident when he was tasked with collecting the sarin-filled bags at the station. At 79 years old, Shizue expressed her ongoing grief and the mental battles she faces in coping with the loss, conveying that she constantly hopes for her husband's peace while also confronting the ongoing legacy of the Aum cult's activities.
The incident itself remains one of Japan's most harrowing terrorist acts, where five members of the Aum Shinrikyo executed a coordinated attack on several subway lines, releasing the deadly nerve agent sarin and resulting in the deaths of 14 individuals while injuring over 6,000 more. This anniversary serves as a reminder not only of the tragedy but also of the continued efforts to combat extremist ideologies and support the victims and their families.
