Tomomitsu Niimi

Tomomitsu Niimi (新見 智光, Niimi Tomomitsu, born 1964) is a former Aum Shinrikyo member indicted for participation in the Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway and a number of other crimes. He was Aum's minister of internal affairs.

His involvement in Aum's crimes began with the 1989 killing of cultist Shuji Taguchi, who tried to flee from the cult. Niimi strangled Taguchi, the court said.

He also strangled anti-Aum lawyer Tsutsumi Sakamoto and his 1-year-old son, Tatsuhiko, later that year, the court said.( Sakamoto family murder in November 1989 )

Before the Toyko subway gas attack, Asahara wanted to try the sarin gas on humans. He chose his rival, Daisaku Ikeda, the leader of Shoka Gakkai, one of Japans most popular "new religions." Asahara directed his men to rig a spraying device on a suitable vehicle at one of the nights when Ikeda was supposed to speak in public. All was going well until the device sprung a leak, splashing liquid sarin onto Tomomitsu Niimi, Asahara's security chief. Fortunately for Niimi, Kiyohide Hayakawa was present and quickly administered an antidote in time to prevent Niimis nervous system from shutting down.

Together with Ikuo Hayashi, Niimi participated in 1995 Tokyo subway gas attack (there were several other perpetrators as well): Hayashi delivered the sarin-filled package and pierced it with a sharpened umbrella tip, while Niimi served as a car driver. He was also involved in the Sakamoto family murder (where a lawyer preparing a lawsuit against Niimi's group was killed with his two other family members), a murder of some ex-Aum members and a number of other criminal acts.

Unlike other former Aum members involved in criminal acts, Niimi delivered no apologies and stoically accepted the death sentence. During one of his earlier court hearings Niimi proclaimed his 'absolute faith' in Shoko Asahara, Aum Shinrikyo's founder, and spoke about various levels of 'enlightenments' he had been able to experience during his religious trainings in Aum. He then spoke about human sufferings, saying that "some are suffering thinking that this world is illusory and some thinking that it is real. Concerning the former members who now testify against their guru [Asahara] who did them so much good, I believe their suffering is based on the perceptions that this world is real".

Perhaps due to Niimi's horrendous appearance and martial arts background, he was dubbed 'the killing machine' by the press. At the time of the crimes, Niimi wasn't actually muscular at all, as apparent by the pictures taken. In Asanas, an Aum-published Hatha Yoga manual, half-naked Niimi is pictured in siddhasana, one of the yogic stretching exercises. One of the pre-1995 Aum-published books includes Niimi's regret regarding difficulties with sitting in padmasana due to the over-pumped muscles, a problem likely to go away since he stopped bodybuilding exercises as apparent by the shots taken.

Niimi refused to enter a plea and received a death sentence, which he did not appeal, saying that he accepts the ruling 'gladly'. Unlike other indicted Aum followers, Niimi did not apologize to the victims. During Niimi's own trial, he once said that the victims of his crimes were an "unavoidable sacrifice for the happiness of the greatest number of people" and for this reason he "feels no regret". "I wouldn't do this in the first place, it this would be later be the case", he added.

According to the media reports, Niimi spent most of the hearings on his court process sitting 'upright', with 'eyes half-closed' and quietly 'chanting to himself', with occasional speeches 'challenging the society values'.