Looming End of Heisei Era Possibly behind Execution of Aum Inmates

July 8, 2018

Tokyo- The end of the Heisei era in Japan, slated for next spring, is considered by some a possible factor that prompted the government to carry out the death sentences on Friday of seven of 13 death-row inmates from the Aum Shinrikyo cult, including its former leader Chizuo Matsumoto.

A prevailing view in Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government is that there should be a symbolic event before the end of the Heisei period to bring some closure for the country in regard to the Aum Shinrikyo crimes, including the 1995 deadly sarin nerve gas attack targeting Tokyo's subway system.

"It's desirable not to carry over Heisei cases into the next era," a government source said recently.

The Heisei era, which started on Jan. 8, 1989, the day after the death of Emperor Hirohito, posthumously known as Emperor Showa, will end on April 30, 2019, the day of incumbent Emperor Akihito's abdication.

A series of events related to the Emperor's abdication and Crown Prince Naruhito's accession to the throne are planned for next year.

A senior Justice Ministry official denied top administration officials' influence over the decision on the timing of the executions of the Aum members. "There's been no involvement by the prime minister's office. We just report (the decision to carry out executions)," the official said.

At a press conference, Justice Minister Yoko Kamikawa declined to give a specific explanation as to why the seven were hanged on Friday, while revealing that she signed the execution order on Tuesday.

"I received the necessary reports and took sufficient time to carefully examine documents and records before taking the final decision," she said. Jiji Press