Shoko Asahara was the founder of the Japanese cult Aum Shinrikyo, which gained notoriety in the 1990s. Born in 1955, he claimed to be a religious leader and had a vision of a coming apocalypse. Under his leadership, the group combined elements of Buddhism, Hinduism, and Christianity, attracting many followers. In 1995, Aum Shinrikyo carried out a deadly sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway, resulting in 13 deaths and thousands of injuries. Asahara was arrested and later convicted for his role in the attack and other crimes. He was executed in 2018, marking the end of a controversial chapter in Japan's history.