Shoko Asahara, born Chizuo Matsumoto, rose from a poor, visually impaired child to become the leader of the doomsday cult Aum Shinrikyo. He exhibited manipulative tendencies early in life, bullying classmates and running a fraudulent health business before transforming into a self-proclaimed spiritual leader. He orchestrated numerous crimes, including the 1995 Tokyo subway sarin gas attack, which killed 13 people and injured thousands. Captured after a massive raid, he was sentenced to death in 2004 and executed in 2018. His actions led to stricter anti-terrorism laws and continue to haunt Japan’s history.