A detachment of Japan’s elite Security Police has been detailed to provide close protection to Justice Minister Yoko Kamikawa and her immediate family for the rest of their lives out of concern that members of the Aum Shinrikyo cult will attempt to avenge the hanging of their leader by attacking the minister who signed his execution order.
Kamikawa gave formal approval for the execution of Shoko Asahara, the leader of the cult, and 12 of his closest acolytes found guilty of a series of crimes that culminated with the sarin gas attack on Tokyo’s subway system in March 1995.