A cult established in 1987 by Shoko Asahara, the Aum aimed to take over Japan and then the world. Approved as a religious entity in 1989 under Japanese law, the group ran candidates in a Japanese parliamentary election in 1990. Over time the cult began to emphasize the imminence of the end of the world and stated that the United States would initiate Armageddon by starting World War III with Japan.

Subscribe to our Patreon

Follow us on Instagram

Listen to our sister podcast: History of Everything

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices