Survivor of 1994 Aum gas attack in Nagano dies in coma

Tuesday 05th August, 04:09 PM JST

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13 Comments

Betting at 04:29 PM JST - 5th August

My condolences to her family. Her death was a tragedy on many, many levels.
nandakandamanda at 04:45 PM JST - 5th August

The article is very polite "police raided their home and questioned Yoshiyuki", but doesn't really say how much the husband was vilified by the whole nation and especially by the police. Not only did his house and family have to suffer the effects of the sarin, (everything was ransacked and turned upside down) but he was slammed in jail and suffered weeks, if not months of torturous grilling as the number one suspect.
chinpira at 04:46 PM JST - 5th August

Yes typical police response here, didn't look like a suicide...thus must find suspect and quickly close the case. Anyone related to this incident, beit the victim shall be charged.
Beelzebub at 05:53 PM JST - 5th August

Wrong, Mr. Kono was never detained, only grilled by the cops. (So was his teenage son, who police tried to get to inform on his father.) He hired a good lawyer and very aggressively promoted his innocence. The provincial Nagano cops backed off, and their investigation went nowhere. If they had pursued it more intelligently they might have nabbed the AUM wackos before they wreaked havoc on the Tokyo metro. But let's face it, Nazi nerve gas is rural Japan was simply too bizarre for the cops to deal with.

After suffering so many human rights abuses himself, it is supremely ironic that Kono became one of the most eloquent defenders of the AUM cult members who had not committed any crimes. I have long admired him, and today I mourn his loss.
spudman at 06:14 PM JST - 5th August

beelzebub, good post and yes a tragic result for a family of strong principles.
Apsara at 09:20 PM JST - 5th August

It was Mrs. Kono who died, not Mr. Kono. At least I assume Mr. Kono is still alive, but the article is reporting Sumiko Kono's death.
usaexpat at 11:47 PM JST - 5th August

My condolences to the family for her injuries and death and for the rush to judgement against Mr. Kono who was innocent. The only good thing that comes from this is that the back of Aum has been broken.
Apsara at 06:38 AM JST - 6th August

I saw the news last night, and Mr. Kono is looking very healthy- no need to mourn his loss.
lipscombe at 06:44 AM JST - 6th August

his loss....he lost his wife. we can mourn HIS loss
LIBERTAS at 07:01 AM JST - 6th August

Sumiko Kono RIP. Time for Yasuoka to sign off on letting these AUM people all die gracefully on the same day!
Beelzebub at 09:00 AM JST - 6th August

"Guru" Chizuo Matsumoto (aka Asahara Shoko) is in a semivegetative state, muttering incoherently in his cell while clad in infrequently changed adult nappies while he awaits the outcome of his appeal. Hanging him might even be merciful -- he's certainly beyond rehabilitation -- but Japan actually does have a law stipulating that the person being executed has to understand why the punishment is being meted out. Matsumoto hasn't made a coherent remark for over a decade. I don't think he's pay-acting.

Regarding Mr. Kono, I don't recall seeing him campaigning vigourously for capital punishment. He seems to be a pretty saintly figure. I believe after Aum's properties were sold off, he received some money. But considering what he has gone through for the past 14 years, it's scant compensation.
kinniku at 05:41 PM JST - 6th August

This was and is such a sad case. Basically the Japanese media tried and convicted him and it was not really until the subway attacks that the public really became aware of the dangers of Aum. Mr. Kono's case reminds me of that security guard at the Atlanta Olympics in the US that was basically tried and convicted in the US media of attempting to set up a bomb.

Prayers for Mr. Kono's wife and for him.
buggerlugs at 02:57 AM JST - 7th August

My condolences to her family.