Fumihiro Joyu

Fumihiro Joyu (上祐史浩 Joyu Fumihiro) was the "Information Minister" (Public Relations Manager) of the controversial Japanese Buddhist religious group Aum Shinrikyo, and de facto chief of the organization since 1999.

Graduate of an Elite University, Aum Shinrikyo follower

Fumihiro Joyu graduated from Waseda University, one of the two Japan's most prestigious private colleges, with M.A. degree in Artificial Intelligence. Couple of years later he joined the monastic order of Aum Shinrikyo, then little-known Buddhist religious group founded by Shoko Asahara. Known for relentless ascetic practice, he quickly advanced towards the ranks. Later he was the head of New York branch and translated several books by Shoko Asahara into English. After the cessation of US operations served as Public Relations manager for Aum in Japan. From 1993 and ill 1995 was head of Russian branches.

Returned back to Japan at the wave of arrests of senior followers and served as a spokeperson. Arrested and accused in 'libel' (i.e. Joyu publicly named a third party as responsible in the sarin gas attack, while 'he definetely knew that AUM was responsible', according to the court verdict). Some of the observers link Joyu's indictment with government attempts to 'decapitate the cult' (the harshly criticized by the Human Rights Watch arrest, lengthy trial and acquittal of the head of Shoko Asahara's legal team Yoshihiro Yasuda speak in favour of this version). Indicted and served a prison term.

Released in 1999 and became a de-facto chief of the organisation. Under his leadership, Aum Shinrikyo has changed its name to Aleph, the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The organization took responisibility for the various incidents involving some of its former senior members, apologized to the victims and established a special compensations fund to distribute financial aid.

An Icon for Teenage Girls

'During the height of Aum Shinrikyo arrests [...], Japan's teenaged girls found an icon: Joyu Fumihiro, the cult's "Information Minister." They had not the slightest interest in AUM, religious experience or Buddha 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: http://www.zmag.org/japanwatch/0106-Koizumi.html]

Named 'Virtuoso AUM Recruiter' by ASIAWeek.

External Links

• Joyu Fumihiro's private website (in Japanese) - Includes diaries, Q&A section, articles on subjects ranging from religion to world politics. Heavy flash-based graphics, many pictures of Joyu himself.

• '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.

• ASIAWeek: 'The Cult that Won't Die' (Vanished to the memory hole. This link leads to Google's cache).

• Japan Times: "You Just Have to Ask - Reports on two documentary films by Tatsuya Mori , which received awards at 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.

• 'I can boast that I have scrutinized Aum more than anyone else ever has'. Documentary filmmaker Tatsuya Mori on his films, an article for Asahi Shimbun.