A court in Tokyo has ordered the state to hand over the remains of the late Aum Shinrikyo cult leader Asahara Shoko to his second daughter.

Asahara, whose real name was Matsumoto Chizuo, was executed in 2018 along with six former members of the doomsday cult that carried out the deadly 1995 sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway system.

The Supreme Court has already finalized the ruling that Matsumoto's second daughter should take physical possession of his ashes and hair.

But the state has refused to agree to the handover, citing that the cult leader's remains could fall into the hands of a successor group of Aum Shinrikyo.

The daughter took the case to court to seek ownership.

In the ruling on Wednesday, the presiding judge at the Tokyo District Court, Koike Ayumi, pointed out that the connection between the second daughter and the successor group has not been established, even with all evidence examined.

The judge noted that if the remains were to pass into the hands of others and harm public safety, it could have a serious impact. But she said the issue over whether to restrict the physical possession should be discussed in the Diet and settled by legislation.

Koike added that the second daughter seeks to receive the remains to mourn her father's death, and the state's restrictions on her ownership cannot be justified.

Authorities have been concerned that Asahara's remains could become an object of worship for his followers, including members of Aum's successor organization Aleph.

The government said it will take an appropriate response after closely examining the ruling.