The Tokyo High Court has upheld a lower court ruling ordering 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 for masterminding a series of crimes, including the deadly 1995 sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway system.
In 2021, the Supreme Court finalized the ruling that Matsumoto's second daughter should take physical possession of his ashes and hair.
But the state refused to agree to the handover, saying the cult leader's remains could become an object of worship by followers of the successor group of Aum Shinrikyo, Aleph, and others.
The second daughter took the case to court to seek ownership.
In March, 2024, the Tokyo District Court ordered that the remains be handed over to the second daughter.
The state appealed the decision.
In the ruling on Thursday, the presiding judge at the Tokyo High Court, Kanokogi Yasushi, pointed out that if the remains and hair were to pass into the hands of others, they could be used as a source of strong influence and a means to recruit new followers. He said that this could pose a serious threat to public safety and social order.
But Kanokogi said that the second daughter wants to take possession of the remains to mourn her father's death, that she plans to keep them at home and that she has vowed to never hand them over to Aleph or any other group. He added that even if the special circumstances regarding the remains are taken into consideration, her request for the handover cannot be said to be an abuse of rights.
The government says it understands its arguments were not accepted, and that it will thoroughly examine the details of the ruling and respond appropriately.
(社会部原稿を参照
2024/3/13 松本元死刑囚遺骨国に引き渡し命じる 2021/7/5 麻原元死刑囚の遺骨を次女引取確定)

Quiz 1:
What was Asahara Shoko's real name?
A. Aleph
B. Matsumoto Chizuo
C. Kanokogi Yasushi
D. Tokyo High Court

Quiz 2:
Why did the state initially refuse to hand over Asahara Shoko’s remains?
A. They believed the daughter intended to publicly display them.
B. They were awaiting a decision from the Supreme Court.
C. They feared the remains could be used to recruit followers and threaten public safety.
D. They believed the daughter did not have the financial resources to care for the remains.

Quiz 3:
According to Presiding Judge Kanokogi Yasushi, what is a potential danger regarding Asahara’s remains?
A. They could be used to exert strong influence and recruit new followers.
B. They are too valuable and should remain in state custody.
C. They could be stolen and sold on the black market.
D. They are contaminated and pose a health risk.

[Answer block]
Answers:
Quiz 1: B
Quiz 2: C
Quiz 3: A