Memorial held for deadly 1994 sarin gas attack in Matsumoto

Saturday 27th June, 04:51 PM JST

NAGANO —

Bereaved relatives of victims of the 1994 sarin gas attacks in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, held a 15th anniversary memorial service Saturday together with supporters and representatives from citizens’ groups. Seven people were killed and more than 200 people made ill in the gas attacks, which were committed by AUM Shinrikyo cult members. The death toll eventually reached eight after Sumiko Kono died last year at age 60 following 14 years in a coma.

Among those who paid floral tribute Saturday were Fusae Kobayashi, mother of Yutaka Kobayashi, a 23-year-old salaried worker who was killed in the attacks, and Masako Yasumoto, mother of a 29-year-old medical school student, who was also a victim. The citizens and supporters were organizing a series of events in the city Saturday to remember the AUM crimes and reexamine police investigations and media reports on the attacks. Yoshiyuki Kono, Sumiko’s husband, was falsely branded by police and media as a suspect in the initial stage of the investigation.

Kyodo

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4 Comments

BeaverCleaver at 08:20 PM JST - 27th June

I wonder how many took the time to offer Mr. Kono a fat apology for accusing him and helping to make his life more miserable than it already was. He too suffered health problems from his exposure to the gas besides effectively loosing his wife.
GW at 11:30 PM JST - 27th June

Yoshiyuki Kono, Sumiko’s husband, was falsely branded by police and media as a suspect in the initial stage of the investigation

As the Beav said,Kono-san was instantly made public enemy#1 & he was 100000000000000% innocent, and to this date JAPAN hasnt REALLY made amends to him in a proper form, either through $$$$$$$$$$$$ for screwing him over & for exonerating him in the publics eye, YOU SON OF A BITCHES!

Jpn you need to put in in BOLD print not hide in the back of the sports pages or whatever.........whatever like the Beav said!
zhazam05 at 09:58 AM JST - 28th June

My deepest sympathy to All the victims.

As far as i can tell these families have had insult added to injury by the govt. THAT HUMAN GARBAGE STILL LIVES!!!!(ASSahara)!!!
aerockyulhim at 12:44 PM JST - 28th June

This was very close to what happened to the security guard in the aftermath of the bombing at the Atlanta Summer Olympics. Both examples of media speculation and police investigation gone wild make me sick, even today.