Fumihiro Joyu
Encyclopedia
was the spokesperson and public relations manager of the controversial Japan
ese Buddhist group Aum Shinrikyo
, and has been the de facto chief of the organization from 1999 to 2007, when he split and formed a new group.
on Kyūshū
island, graduated from Waseda University
, one of Japan's most prestigious private colleges, with an M.A. degree in Artificial Intelligence
.
; resumed his position as Aum Shinrikyo's spokesperson. Arrested and tried for "inciting others to make false statements during [1992] court hearings". Some observers linked Joyu's indictment to a supposed government attempt to "decapitate the cult". The arrest, lengthy trial and subsequent acquittal of Japan's veteran attorney and Human Rights activist Yoshihiro Yasuda
, then head of Shoko Asahara's legal team, a move which was harshly criticized by Human Rights Watch
, is often cited in support of this hypothesis. Sentenced to three years in prison. Released in 1999. Later Joyu apologized for denying Aum's responsibility in the subway sarin attack, saying that at that time he believed that defending Aum this way as a spokesperson he did the right thing to do.
Joyu would often get into argumentative debates with reporters during his press conferences. Especially after the sarin attack, he was sometimes referred to by Japanese as "Aa ieba Joyu", which is a pun on the expression "Aa ieba koiu", meaning someone who is excessively contrarian and argumentative (literally "you say one thing and he says the opposite").
but were crazy about Joyu because he was a "heart throb" as the press cynically wrote.' (from 'Slapstick on the Precipice: The Ascent of Koizumi Junichiro' by Alex Shishin). ([Full article in Alex Shishin, The Cyber Dust Stories: Lost Internet Stories and Essays Centering on Japan (Smashwords, 2010): http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/33093
Dubbed 'Virtuoso AUM Recruiter' by Asiaweek
.
. The group has admitted responsibility for the various incidents involving some of its former senior members, including the Tokyo Subway gas attack, delivered apologies to the victims and established a special compensations fund. Some of the controversial doctrines that previously attracted criticisms were removed. Most of the time, Joyu resided within Aum's religious facilities with occasional trips to the outside world. Police officials were quoted as advising him to refrain from public activities as they 'could not guarantee his safety'.
Joyu's attempts to soften tensions with society did not win him much praise, though. Judging from the statements made by the country's government officials and unanimously critical media coverage, Aleph is still regarded as a threat.
(Public Security Investigation Agency), which has been monitoring Aleph since 1999. While the fundamentalist faction wishes to keep the organization as close to its pre-1995 ideal, Joyu and his reformer supporters advocate a milder course, aimed at softening social tensions and re-integration into society.
Opposing fractions split in late summer 2006, with Joyu and his supporters (among which many former Aum leaders) residing in a separate building in Tokyo
and heading his faction called Hikari no Wa
(The Circle of Rainbow Light). According to Joyu, many of the members have not taken sides yet, and keep staying with the opposing group. It was raided by PSIA agents on May 10, 2007.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese Buddhist group Aum Shinrikyo
Aum Shinrikyo
Aum Shinrikyo was a Japanese new religious movement. The group was founded by Shoko Asahara in 1984. The group gained international notoriety in 1995, when it carried out the Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway....
, and has been the de facto chief of the organization from 1999 to 2007, when he split and formed a new group.
High society member
Fumihiro Joyu, originally from the Kurume, FukuokaKurume, Fukuoka
is a city located in Fukuoka prefecture, Japan.The city has an estimated population of 303,277 and a population density of 1,319.51 persons per km²...
on Kyūshū
Kyushu
is the third largest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternate ancient names include , , and . The historical regional name is referred to Kyushu and its surrounding islands....
island, graduated from Waseda University
Waseda University
, abbreviated as , is one of the most prestigious private universities in Japan and Asia. Its main campuses are located in the northern part of Shinjuku, Tokyo. Founded in 1882 as Tokyo Senmon Gakko, the institution was renamed "Waseda University" in 1902. It is known for its liberal climate...
, one of Japan's most prestigious private colleges, with an M.A. degree in Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence is the intelligence of machines and the branch of computer science that aims to create it. AI textbooks define the field as "the study and design of intelligent agents" where an intelligent agent is a system that perceives its environment and takes actions that maximize its...
.
1995: spokesperson for Aum Shinrikyo
Summoned to Japan on the wave of arrests of senior followers following the 1995 sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subwaySarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway
The Sarin attack on the Tokyo subway, usually referred to in the Japanese media as the , was an act of domestic terrorism perpetrated by members of Aum Shinrikyo on March 20, 1995....
; resumed his position as Aum Shinrikyo's spokesperson. Arrested and tried for "inciting others to make false statements during [1992] court hearings". Some observers linked Joyu's indictment to a supposed government attempt to "decapitate the cult". The arrest, lengthy trial and subsequent acquittal of Japan's veteran attorney and Human Rights activist Yoshihiro Yasuda
Yoshihiro Yasuda
Yoshihiro Yasuda is a famed and controversial lawyer in Japan who is known for his anti-death penalty activism in Japan...
, then head of Shoko Asahara's legal team, a move which was harshly criticized by Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch is an international non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. Its headquarters are in New York City and it has offices in Berlin, Beirut, Brussels, Chicago, Geneva, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Moscow, Paris, San Francisco, Tokyo,...
, is often cited in support of this hypothesis. Sentenced to three years in prison. Released in 1999. Later Joyu apologized for denying Aum's responsibility in the subway sarin attack, saying that at that time he believed that defending Aum this way as a spokesperson he did the right thing to do.
Joyu would often get into argumentative debates with reporters during his press conferences. Especially after the sarin attack, he was sometimes referred to by Japanese as "Aa ieba Joyu", which is a pun on the expression "Aa ieba koiu", meaning someone who is excessively contrarian and argumentative (literally "you say one thing and he says the opposite").
An icon for teenage girls
'During the height of Aum Shinrikyo arrests [...], Japan's teenage girls found an icon: Joyu Fumihiro, the cult's "Information Minister." They had not the slightest interest in AUM, religious experience or BuddhaGautama Buddha
Siddhārtha Gautama was a spiritual teacher from the Indian subcontinent, on whose teachings Buddhism was founded. In most Buddhist traditions, he is regarded as the Supreme Buddha Siddhārtha Gautama (Sanskrit: सिद्धार्थ गौतम; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual teacher from the Indian...
but were crazy about Joyu because he was a "heart throb" as the press cynically wrote.' (from 'Slapstick on the Precipice: The Ascent of Koizumi Junichiro' by Alex Shishin). ([Full article in Alex Shishin, The Cyber Dust Stories: Lost Internet Stories and Essays Centering on Japan (Smashwords, 2010): http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/33093
Dubbed 'Virtuoso AUM Recruiter' by Asiaweek
Asiaweek
Asiaweek, the English edition, was a news magazine focusing on Asia, published weekly by Asiaweek Limited, a subsidiary of Time Inc. Based in Hong Kong, it was established in 1975, and ceased publication with its December 7, 2001 issue due to a "downturn in the advertising market," according to...
.
Aleph 1999: a new course
On his release on 29 December 1999, Joyu became the de facto head of the organisation. Under his leadership, Aum Shinrikyo has changed its name to Aleph, the first letter of the Hebrew alphabetHebrew alphabet
The Hebrew alphabet , known variously by scholars as the Jewish script, square script, block script, or more historically, the Assyrian script, is used in the writing of the Hebrew language, as well as other Jewish languages, most notably Yiddish, Ladino, and Judeo-Arabic. There have been two...
. The group has admitted responsibility for the various incidents involving some of its former senior members, including the Tokyo Subway gas attack, delivered apologies to the victims and established a special compensations fund. Some of the controversial doctrines that previously attracted criticisms were removed. Most of the time, Joyu resided within Aum's religious facilities with occasional trips to the outside world. Police officials were quoted as advising him to refrain from public activities as they 'could not guarantee his safety'.
Joyu's attempts to soften tensions with society did not win him much praise, though. Judging from the statements made by the country's government officials and unanimously critical media coverage, Aleph is still regarded as a threat.
2007: The Circle of Rainbow Light
Leadership disputes over Aleph's future initiated by Joyu finally split the group into 2 opposing factions by the end of 2005, according to the Japanese media quoting the PSIAPSIA
PSIA or psia may refer to:* Physical Security Interoperability Alliance, industrial standardization initiative promoting interoperability of IP-enabled security devices* Pounds per square inch absolute...
(Public Security Investigation Agency), which has been monitoring Aleph since 1999. While the fundamentalist faction wishes to keep the organization as close to its pre-1995 ideal, Joyu and his reformer supporters advocate a milder course, aimed at softening social tensions and re-integration into society.
Opposing fractions split in late summer 2006, with Joyu and his supporters (among which many former Aum leaders) residing in a separate building in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
and heading his faction called Hikari no Wa
Hikari no Wa
is a breakaway group started by , the previous spokesperson and public relations manager of the Japanese terrorist cult Aum Shinrikyo in 2007.At its foundation, the group had 57 live-in followers and nine other executives with 106 lay members....
(The Circle of Rainbow Light). According to Joyu, many of the members have not taken sides yet, and keep staying with the opposing group. It was raided by PSIA agents on May 10, 2007.
External links
- "Air raids that victimize innocent people can only lead to the next terrorism and prolonged warfare." Fumihiro Joyu's views on the terrorist attacks of September 11th, the War on Terror and terrorism in general (in English). Excerpted and summarized from his private homepage.
- Japan Times: "You Just Have to Ask" - Reports on two documentary films by Tatsuya MoriTatsuya Moriis a Japanese documentary filmmaker, TV director and author.-Career:Born in Hiroshima Prefecture, Mori graduated from Rikkyo University, where he appeared in the student films of Kiyoshi Kurosawa. After graduating, he tried acting and even appeared in Kurosawa's feature debut, the pink film...
, that received awards at the Berlin Documentary Film Festival, shown in Japan only theatrically. The films feature hours of footage, shot inside the AUM facilities, including Fumihiro Joyu's everyday activities. - Midnight Eye: A. A review of Tatsuya Mori's first documentary film.