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10 years later, Tokyo subway attack still haunts survivors

TOKYO - The worst of the trauma seems behind him. Sakae Ito no longer suffers anxiety attacks on trains or searing pain in his eyes, but he still tires easily and his vision can suddenly blur and darken - a reminder of the deadly nerve gas he inhaled a decade ago.

Like thousands of Tokyo commuters, Ito found his life taking a wrenching turn 10 years ago today, when a doomsday cult calling itself Aum Shinrikyo, or "supreme truth," released sarin gas in the city's subways, killing 12 people and sending thousands to hospitals.

"My life has been forever changed by this unforgivable act," said Ito, a 50-year-old executive. "When you think about all the families and friends of the thousands of victims, there were so many people affected. The scale of this terrorist act was massive."

The attack was a wakeup call that terrorists with biological weapons could be lurking anywhere - a fear since amplified worldwide following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Meanwhile, as Japan marks the anniversary with memorial services, survivors and relatives say their ordeal is far from over.

Legally the case is still alive: Despite a string of convictions of Aum leaders, including the death sentence last year for guru Shoko Asahara and 13 others, appeals continue and three members are still on a national wanted list. Legislation to support crime victims was approved in December, and one-third of the $35-million Aum was ordered by courts to pay gassing victims has been doled out. But survivors want more.

"The government has made no effort to compensate victims," said Yuji Nakamura, who heads the victims' legal team.

The wider legacy also has endured. Though the assault brought high-profile security measures to a country long admired for its low crime rates, Japan remains vulnerable to fanatic groups, said Masatoshi Setagawa, an Akita Keizaihoka University professor who has written about Aum.

At railway stations, signs and frequent announcements ask commuters to look out for suspicious objects or people, and trash cans have been removed.

Japan still lives with the shock of the attack - and the rise of its fanatical perpetrators.

Shizue Takahashi, the wife of a subway worker killed in the attack, said she wants Asahara executed soon.

"The sadness won't disappear," she said. "The fact that I lost my husband can't be erased."

[Last modified March 20, 2005, 01:09:07]