Masami Tsuchiya (Aum Shinrikyo)
Masami Tsuchiya | |
|---|---|
土谷 正実 | |
 | |
| Born | 6 January 1965 Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan |
| Died | 6 July 2018 (aged 53) Tokyo Detention House, Katsushika, Tokyo, Japan |
| Cause of death | Execution by hanging |
| Nationality | Japanese |
| Alma mater | University of Tsukuba |
| Known for | Aum Shinrikyo membership and numerous attacks and murders |
| Criminal status | Executed |
| Convictions | Mass murder Terrorism |
| Criminal penalty | Death |
Masami Tsuchiya (土谷 正実, Tsuchiya Masami; 6 January 1965 – 6 July 2018) was a senior member of Aum Shinrikyo, responsible for the deaths of a combined 19 people and for the production of sarin, VX nerve agent, PCP, and LSD.[1] He served in Aum's "Ministry of Health".[2] Prosecutors described him as "the second most important figure involved in the gas attacks by the Aum Shinrikyo cult" after Aum leader Shoko Asahara himself.[3]
Biography
[edit]A native of Chiyoda, Tokyo, Tsuchiya joined Aum Shinrikyo at the age of 26 in 1991 after attending a yoga class, which he took as treatment for whiplash following a car accident.[2] Tsuchiya earned his master's degree in physical and organic chemistry from the University of Tsukuba before fully committing to Aum Shinrikyo.[2]
Tsuchiya was notably loyal to Asahara, describing himself as a "direct disciple of the guru",[4] and referring to Asahara as sonshi (尊師, "honorable master").[1]
Trial and execution
[edit]Tsuchiya was charged with seven counts: the 1995 Tokyo subway sarin attack that killed 12 people; the June 1994 sarin attack in Matsumoto, Nagano, that killed seven; three VX gas attacks in 1994 and 1995 that killed one; production of PCP; and harboring Aum fugitives.[4] During the trials, Tsuchiya was notably defiant, insulting the prosecutors and the gallery, and showing loyalty to Asahara.[4]
In January 2004, the Tokyo District Court found Tsuchiya guilty of all charges except for harboring Aum fugitives and sentenced him to death.[4] The presiding judge stated that although Tsuchiya was not directly involved in the attacks, he deserved to die for his "sheer evil".[1] The Tokyo High Court upheld the sentence in August 2006,[5] and the Supreme Court affirmed the ruling in February 2011, concluding that Tsuchiya had played a decisive role in the 1995 subway attack.[6] In response, Tsuchiya said, "Natural result. I wanted to think about what I could do with a lifelong apology."[7]
On 6 July 2018, Tsuchiya was executed along with Asahara and five other cult members.[8]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Profiles of top Aum Shinrikyo members, including six still on death row". The Japan Times. 6 July 2018. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
- ^ a b c "Profiles of the 7 doomsday cult members executed in Japan". Fox News. Associated Press. 6 July 2018. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
- ^ "Japanese Chemist Sentenced to Death for Participation in Terror Attacks". Voice of America. 26 October 2009. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
- ^ a b c d "Aum chemist sentenced to hang". The Japan Times. 31 January 2004. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
- ^ The Yomiuri Shimbun, edition of 18 August 2006
- ^ "オウム事件 土谷被告、死刑確定へ 最高裁上告棄却" [Aum case: Tsuchiya death sentence appeal to Supreme Court rejected]. The Nikkei (in Japanese). 15 February 2011. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
- ^ Mainichi Newspaper 15 February 2011
- ^ "'When will I be executed?': AUM death row inmates anxious in final months". The Mainichi. 6 July 2018. Retrieved 3 September 2020.