Kenichi Hirose

Kenichi Hirose
広瀬 健一
Born(1964-06-12)June 12, 1964
Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
DiedJuly 26, 2018(2018-07-26) (aged 54)
Tokyo Detention House, Katsushika, Tokyo, Japan
Cause of deathExecution by hanging
Known forTokyo subway sarin attack
Criminal statusExecuted
Conviction(s)Mass murder
Terrorism
Criminal penaltyDeath

Kenichi Hirose (広瀬 健一, [ひろせ けんいち] Error: {{nihongo}}: transliteration text not Latin script (pos 1) (help), June 12, 1964 – July 26, 2018) was a member of the Japanese doomsday-cult group Aum Shinrikyo[1] who was convicted and executed for murder during the Tokyo subway sarin attack.

Early life

Born in 1964, Hirose was an outstanding student in his early years. In 1983, Hirose was admitted by Waseda University and chose applied physics as his major. In 1987, Hirose graduated from Waseda University as the best student in his grade and entered the Graduate School of Waseda University with a research topic on high-temperature superconductivity. Working with his supervisor, he published a paper in July 1987. His supervisor said Hirose was a gifted scientist. At the same time, Hirose began to wonder if the knowledge he learned in the university could help the society.[2][3][4][5][6]

Joining Aum Shinrikyo and leading secret assault rifle production

In 1988, Hirose read books written by Shoko Asahara by accident. He was attracted by Asahara and began to correspond with Asahara. Per Asahara's request, in 1989, after graduating from graduate school and getting his master's degree, Hirose declined a job offered by NEC and joined Aum Shinrikyo, becoming an important person in this group. In the early 1990s, he produced around 1,000 assault rifles based on the AK-74. It's reported that Hirose once went to Russia to test assault rifles produced by him.[7][8][9][10]

Tokyo subway gas attack, arrest, trial and execution

In 1995, Hirose took part in the Tokyo subway sarin attack. He was assigned to release the sarin in the train A777 on Marunouchi Line.[6] Hirose was arrested in the same year. In 2000, he was sentenced to death. In 2006, his appeal was dismissed. On July 26, 2018, Hirose was executed by hanging in the Tokyo Detention House.[11][12][13]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Japan hangs two death row inmates". bbc.com. 28 July 2010.
  2. ^ "物理の秀才・広瀬健一が麻原の「浮揚」を信じた瞬間 ＜教団エリートの「罪と罰」（5）＞". 週刊朝日. 26 July 2018. Archived from the original on 2018-07-26. Retrieved 2018-10-31.
  3. ^ 佐木隆三 (1999). 少年犯罪の風景: 「親子の法廷」で考えたこと. 東京書籍. p. 52. ISBN 9784487795055.
  4. ^ "サリンを『サリーちゃん』と呼んでいた」オウム幹部 広瀬健一死刑囚【死刑執行】". FNN. 26 July 2018. Retrieved 2018-10-31.
  5. ^ 佐木隆三 (25 November 2002). 大義なきテロリスト: オウム法廷の16被告. 日本放送出版協会. ISBN 978-4-14-080728-6.
  6. ^ a b John David Ebert (30 August 2012). The Age of Catastrophe: Disaster and Humanity in Modern Times. McFarland. pp. 97–98. ISBN 978-0-7864-7142-3.
  7. ^ 毎日新聞社会部 (May 2001). 名称変更で存続を図る. 現代書館. pp. 194–195, 334. ISBN 9784768470060.
  8. ^ "Japan cultists sentenced to death". BBC. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
  9. ^ "「サリンを『サリーちゃん』と呼んでいた」オウム幹部 広瀬健一死刑囚【死刑執行】". FNN. 26 July 2018. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
  10. ^ 朝日年鑑. 朝日新聞社. 1996. p. 206.
  11. ^ "オウム真理教の死刑囚6人に刑執行". NHK NEWS WEB. 日本放送協会. 2018-07-26. Archived from the original on 2018-07-28. Retrieved 2018-07-26.
  12. ^ "オウム全死刑囚の刑執行【オウム死刑囚の刑執行 速報中】". 共同通信社. 2018-07-26. Archived from the original on 2018-07-26. Retrieved 2018-07-26.
  13. ^ YAMAGUCHI, MARI (26 July 2018). "Cult members hanged for Tokyo subway attack, other crimes". AP. Retrieved 1 November 2018.