Voices of victims, their families and the bereaved

Updated October 15， 2020

　In the Tokyo subway sarin gas attacks,13 people were killed and more than 5,800 (※) were injured. The victims, the bereaved and family members have still been suffering from hardships even a quarter century after the attacks.

　* The number of victims who received benefit payments based on laws relating to the payment of benefits for the relief of Aum Shinrikyo crime victims

　We received notes from victims, the bereaved and family members of the subway sarin gas attacks, who wrote them with a strong feeling that “We hope that especially young people who have less knowledge on the attacks will become aware that our suffering from the attacks has still been continuing.”

１　Ms. TAKAHASHI Shizue

　Ms. TAKAHASHI Shizue lost her husband Mr. TAKAHASHI Kazumasa (then aged 50) in the Tokyo subway sarin gas attacks.
He was the assistant stationmaster of Kasumigaseki Station, and was injured by the sarin when cleaning up the sarin-filled plastic bags from the train cars and passed away.
　Ms. TAKAHASHI Shizue, acting as a representative for the “Tokyo Subway Sarin Incident Victims' Association” organized by the victims of the attacks and their bereaved, is conducting relief activities for the victims.

Ms. TAKAHASHI Shizue

Note from Ms. TAKAHASHI Shizue

２　Ms. IWATA Kiyoe　

　Ms. IWATA Kiyoe lost her elder daughter Ms. IWATA Takako (then aged 33) in the Tokyo subway sarin gas attacks. Ms. IWATA Takako was injured by the sarin in the subway train on the Hibiya Line and passed away. Ms. IWATA Kiyoe has still been suffering from losing her beloved family member, stating that when she thinks of Takako, her anger toward Aum Shinrikyo has never settled.

Ms. IWATA Kiyoe

Note from Ms. IWATA Kiyoe

３　Mr. ASAKAWA Kazuo

　His sister Ms. ASAKAWA Sachiko (then aged 31) was injured in the Tokyo subway sarin gas attacks. She was damaged in her brain due to the injury by sarin in the subway train on Marunouchi Line. Since then, she has been bedridden. Mr. ASAKAWA Kazuo and other family members have still devotedly been caring Sachiko in hospital, continuing their family-wide struggle.

Mr. ASAKAWA Kazuo

Note from Mr. ASAKAWA Kazuo

４　Mr. ITO Sakae

　Mr. ITO Sakae was victimized by sarin attacks when he was in the subway train on the Hibiya Line. After the attacks, he was suffered from PTSD (Post-traumatic stress disorder) which made him afraid to get on subway and also other symptoms such as pains in his eyes. With support given by his family members, he is gradually overcoming these difficulties, but is still suffering from the aftereffect in his eyes.

Mr. ITO Sakae

Note from Mr. ITO Sakae