Fumihiro Joyu | Today's AI Wiki

1. Early Life and Education

Fumihiro Joyu was born on December 17, 1962, in Kurume, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. His father, a graduate of Kyushu University, worked for Fukuoka Bank before later attempting to become a lawyer. His mother, a teacher, graduated from Fukuoka University of Education. Joyu lived in Fukuoka until he was four years old, when his family moved to Tokyo due to his father's new job. His parents later separated due to his father's extramarital affairs, leading to Joyu and his mother living alone. His parents formally divorced around the time Joyu became a monastic. Despite the separation, Joyu later confirmed that his father consistently paid child support. His father eventually left his banking career to start his own business in the lighter industry.

Joyu consistently achieved high academic results from elementary school through high school. He graduated from Waseda University Senior High School and went on to study at Waseda University, one of Japan's most prestigious private institutions. He earned a Master of Arts degree in artificial intelligence from Waseda University's Graduate School of Science and Engineering. During his university years, he was an active member of the English-speaking society (WESA), participating in English debate activities and winning awards in competitions. He later became a founding director of the Japan Debate Association, which oversees English debate in Japan. Through his debate activities, he also became acquainted with Hidehito Tomabechi.

In April 1986, after graduating from Waseda University, Joyu joined the National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA), now part of JAXA. He was inspired by a statement from NASDA's chairman on NHK Educational TV, who said that "space would save the future of Earth," and had a childhood aspiration for space exploration, having witnessed the Apollo program's moon landing. However, just one month into his employment, he resigned to become a monastic, as he had become deeply engrossed in the activities of Oumu Shinsen no Kai, the precursor to Aum Shinrikyo, which he had joined shortly before starting his job. His mother opposed his decision to resign and become a monastic, but he proceeded nonetheless.

2. Entry into Aum Shinrikyo and Activities

Joyu's entry into Aum Shinrikyo began in August 1986, when he encountered "Oumu Shinsen no Kai," then a yoga organization, through an article about Shoko Asahara in the occult magazine `月刊ムー_{Gekkan Mu}^Japanese` (Monthly Mu). Although he was interested in supernatural phenomena, Tibetan Buddhism, and yoga, he initially had no particular interest in yoga itself. However, after participating in a residential seminar in Tanzawa, he was deeply impressed by the strict and intense ascetic practices, including 10-hour daily yoga and breathing techniques. After several such training sessions, he experienced mystical phenomena, such as losing bodily sensation during meditation and seeing strange colors and lights. He ultimately experienced Kundalini, which led him to recognize Asahara as a legitimate yoga master. He became an Aum monastic with the monastic number 13. Joyu was the second person to achieve spiritual realization among male members in Aum.

Joyu quickly ascended within the organization. By 1987, he was recognized as a `大師_Daishi^Japanese` (Master), a rank held by only about 10 of the several hundred male members. He was given the holy name `マイトレーヤ_Maitreya^Japanese`. In October 1987, he was appointed head of the Aum Shinrikyo branch in New York. In 1989, he also served as the Osaka branch manager. Although he initially struggled to recruit new members in New York, he later stated that the New York branch continued to exist, and he visited it again in 1992 before being assigned to the Russian branch in 1993. His proficiency in English led him to serve as Asahara's interpreter, facilitating meetings and interactions with various international religious figures and politicians, including the 14th Dalai Lama, Tibetan Buddhist Kagyu monk Kalu Rinpoche, and the renowned Sri Lankan monk Ananda Maitreya. In some instances, Joyu independently negotiated on behalf of the Aum cult.

A controversial episode from this period involved Joyu's then-girlfriend, Kazuko Tozawa, who also became a monastic. When she became attracted to Asahara, Joyu rationalized it as a `マハームドラー_Mahāmudrā^Japanese` (a spiritual trial) from the guru. In a 1995 interview, Joyu stated, "The Guru has a strong power to cut off worldly desires, so it's okay for him to have sex with anyone," adding, "If she (Tozawa) merges with Guru Asahara, her spiritual stage will be higher, which I think is better than merging with me, so I want to offer my girlfriend to Guru Asahara. I find such matters burdensome."

In 1989, prior to the Sakamoto family murder incident, Joyu, along with Yoshinobu Aoyama and Kiyohide Hayakawa, negotiated with lawyer Tsutsumi Sakamoto to avoid a lawsuit. However, their views diverged, as Sakamoto insisted that minors and even adults like Joyu should return to their families, leading to a breakdown in negotiations. Joyu later clarified that the widely circulated anecdote of Sakamoto saying "there is no freedom to make people unhappy" in response to Joyu's assertion of "freedom of religion" never occurred. Joyu strongly opposed Asahara's suggestion of `ポア_Poa^Japanese` (killing) critics of the cult, including Sakamoto, and even opposed Asahara's suggestion to ram a truck into the Mainichi Shimbun offices. Consequently, he and Hisako Ishii, who also opposed the idea, were excluded from the conspiracy to murder Sakamoto and his family. Joyu stated that he was unaware of the full extent of the three internal murders (including two male members) that preceded the Sakamoto incident. He was instructed by Asahara to act as the cult's spokesperson to "cover up" these incidents, leading to his public statements being derided by the media with the phrase `ああいえば、上祐_{Aa ieba Joyu}^Japanese`, meaning "if you say one thing, Joyu says the opposite," or someone who is excessively contrarian. He later admitted to feeling dissatisfied when he realized the cult was behind the crimes and called Asahara, who instead tried to justify them. Years later, Joyu acknowledged Sakamoto's foresight, considering the crimes he was unaware of at the time. However, Hayakawa claimed Joyu, Ishii, and Asahara's wife, Tomoko Matsumoto, knew about the Sakamoto incident. Joyu refutes this, stating he was never informed beforehand and only heard Asahara's post-facto justifications, calling Hayakawa's claim mere speculation.

In the 1990 Japanese general election, Joyu was among those, including Tetsuya Kibe, who opposed the cult's executives running as the `真理党_Shinri-tō^Japanese` (Truth Party). He ran in Tokyo's 5th district but lost, finishing last. When Asahara claimed the votes were rigged by state power, Joyu was the sole dissenter, stating his own phone survey found no voters who claimed to have voted for Asahara out of 100 people. Despite Asahara's subsequent investigation, his belief in the conspiracy remained unchanged. In November 1991, Joyu performed "Underground Samadhi," spending five days without food or drink in a sealed, three-meter-square wooden box buried underground. He was the first executive member to complete this extreme meditation practice, which was based on the claim that if one does not enter deep meditation and reduce oxygen intake, one cannot survive due to lack of oxygen.

Joyu was also involved in Aum Shinrikyo's weapons development programs. He participated in the development of biological weapon balloon bombs and the phosgene bomb plan. While he was aware of the Sarin plant plan at the `第七サティアン_{Seventh Satyan}^Japanese`, he was dispatched to Russia before its construction began, and only construction and security personnel were prosecuted for it. He was also involved in the `亀戸異臭事件_{Kameido Odor Incident}^Japanese` in June-July 1993, where he was responsible for culturing anthrax. However, this was not prosecuted as a criminal offense, as it was deemed an "impossible crime" due to the lack of intent or ability to produce toxic anthrax, and no one was indicted. Joyu stated that the direct person in charge, Seiichi Endo, believed that culturing a non-toxic vaccine strain of anthrax would not make it toxic through genetic engineering, despite Asahara's unfounded insistence. Joyu stated that Endo's lawyer showed him Endo's deposition, which included this information. Endo reportedly believed Asahara's command was a spiritual test (`Mahāmudrā`) to make disciples follow him beyond rational judgment. Joyu himself stated that he was reprimanded by Asahara for not being affirmative in a January 1993 meeting regarding future manufacturing experiments. However, another former member, Shigeto Noda, claimed Joyu was enthusiastic about the project, unlike other members who expected it to fail.

In 1992, Joyu was dispatched to the Aum Shinrikyo Moscow branch in Russia, where he became its head in 1993. Kiyohide Hayakawa reportedly said that Joyu in Russia was "like a guru, like a mini-Asahara." In 1994, he established and led another religious corporation recognized by the city of Moscow, acting as its representative. Despite speaking little Russian, he communicated through broken Russian or English via interpreters, one of whom was a former Soviet intelligence operative who had worked in anti-Japan intelligence before the collapse of the Soviet Union. After 1994, Asahara told him that staying in Japan would bring disaster, so he spent most of his time in Russia. During a temporary return to Japan, he underwent an initiation ceremony using drugs, which deepened his devotion to Asahara. Former Aum executive Takashi Tomita suggested that Joyu's frequent dispatches to distant overseas branches were due to Asahara finding him bothersome, as Joyu was often the only one to voice dissent. Tomita noted that Asahara would keep Joyu physically distant to avoid his interference, but would call him back to handle difficult situations without providing complete information. Tomita observed that Joyu's tendency to rationalize was often a sign that he lacked accurate information.

Following the Tokyo subway sarin attack in March 1995, Asahara summoned Joyu back to Japan to manage public relations. Joyu was appointed "Emergency Task Force Chief" and, along with Yoshinobu Aoyama and Hideo Murai, appeared daily on television news programs and radio shows. Following Asahara's and the cult's instructions, he vehemently refuted all criticisms, despite his personal doubts. He claimed the various alleged incidents were conspiracies by the Soka Gakkai, the U.S. military, or the Japan Self-Defense Forces, and that Aum was the victim of sarin attacks. He also confronted foreign media in fluent English, where he was sometimes called a "liar" by foreign journalists. Joyu, Aoyama, and Murai were all aware of the cult's attempts to produce sarin.

Joyu's talent for public performance became evident during press conferences. When cult members were arrested on minor or unrelated charges, he would angrily denounce the police and media, slamming his fist on the table. He once threw a flip chart listing arrest charges, exclaiming, "I don't want to say too much, but you can see this [flip chart], right? It's ridiculous!" After the Hideo Murai assassination, when a reporter asked if Asahara would hold a press conference, Joyu became enraged, shouting, "Are you trying to kill Asahara now? Are you trying to kill Asahara? Are you trying to kill the guru now!?"

His constant media presence and rhetorical skills led journalist Hirotaka Futatsuki to coin the phrase `ああ言えば上祐_{Aa ieba Joyu}^Japanese`, a pun on `ああ言えばこう言う_{Aa ieba kō iu}^Japanese` (meaning someone who is excessively contrarian). Joyu gained unexpected popularity, attracting a group of fervent female fans known as "Joyu Gyaru" (Joyu Girls), who formed a fan club. These fans described him as "stirring maternal instincts," "willing to be his mistress," and even suggested he might "be better off being killed like Murai-san" to preserve his mystique. His background in educational debate at Waseda University, shared with Kazuko Tozawa, was widely reported, drawing attention to debate as a skill for winning arguments. Joyu was seen as a master debater capable of defending even the most indefensible positions. His female driver, a former hostess from Roppongi, also drew media attention; she was arrested in 1995 for unlawful confinement and injury of a former member and received a two-year prison sentence, suspended for four years.

On October 6, 1995, Joyu was arrested in connection with the Aum Shinrikyo Land Utilization Planning Law Violation Incident, involving the acquisition of land in Namino Village, Aso District, Kumamoto Prefecture. He was indicted on October 28 for perjury and forgery of private documents and exercising the same. Despite being a close aide to Asahara, he was not prosecuted for a series of Aum Shinrikyo incidents, including the Sarin plant construction, as he was in Russia after 1992 and before construction began, and only construction and security personnel were indicted. For the biological weapons manufacturing and dispersal incidents like the Kameido Odor Incident, he was not prosecuted because the intent to produce toxic anthrax was unclear, and the cult lacked the capability, resulting in no harm beyond the odor. In court, he expressed unwavering devotion to Asahara, stating, "Guru Asahara is a guide in every sense, a savior, my everything," and "Thank you and goodbye." He was sentenced to three years in prison and incarcerated in Hiroshima Prison.

Joyu later apologized for denying Aum's responsibility for the subway attack, stating that at the time he believed he was doing the right thing by defending Aum. He confessed to lying to the media, acknowledging that he had only vaguely realized Aum's involvement in the incidents. He stated that Asahara informed him that the cult had caused the Sarin attack about a month after his return to Japan (after the Murai assassination), and he learned the full scope of the incidents around that time. Former Aum executive Takashi Tomita corroborated Joyu's account, suggesting that Joyu was often tasked with cleaning up messes after Asahara and his inner circle, receiving incomplete information. Tomita observed that Joyu's tendency to rationalize was often a sign that he lacked accurate information.

In 2018, Joyu publicly admitted to witnessing the murder of a female Aum member by Asahara and others, an incident that was not prosecuted. This was reported by Shinchosha's Weekly Shincho. He explained his delay in testifying by stating he did not want to impede Asahara's execution and feared for his own safety, as Asahara might have instructed believers to harm him if he had cooperated earlier. Religious scholar Toshihiro Ota analyzed this, suggesting that Asahara intentionally made Joyu witness the murder to intimidate him, as Joyu often voiced disagreement with Asahara.

3. Leadership of Aleph

Upon his release from Hiroshima Prison on December 29, 1999, Joyu returned to the cult, which had been experiencing internal conflicts among Asahara's children and executives. He became the de facto head of the organization. Two months later, in February 2000, the cult was officially renamed `アレフ_Aleph^Japanese`, the first letter of the Phoenician alphabet. The leadership initially fell to Tatsuko Muraoka, a `正悟師_Shōgoshi^Japanese` (Perfect Enlightenment Master), after Asahara's children (including third daughter Rika Matsumoto and second daughter), who held the highest ranks, were arrested in the Asahimura incident and thus excluded from the cult's management.

Under Joyu's leadership, Aleph admitted responsibility for the various incidents involving some of its former senior members, including the Tokyo Subway gas attack. The group issued apologies to the victims and established a special compensation fund, which Joyu largely spearheaded and substantially led. Controversial doctrines that had previously attracted criticism were removed. Joyu's attempts to ease tensions with society and convey the reality of Aum's past crimes were met with dismay by many executives and members who remained in denial or clung to Asahara's prophecies. He observed that many executives were in a state of "stopped thinking" or "delusion," even rationalizing Asahara's failed 1999 Armageddon prophecy.

However, after Asahara's wife, Tomoko Matsumoto, was released from prison in October 2002, she and Asahara's daughters (including third daughter Rika Matsumoto and second daughter) secretly began to intervene in the cult's operations and seize control. They criticized Joyu's reforms as "guru removal" (denial of Asahara) and claimed Joyu was possessed by demons for criticizing Asahara. Consequently, Joyu was suddenly excluded from Aleph's management and effectively placed under house arrest, referred to as "Joyu Imprisonment," under the guise of "training." The reason executives like Noda Shigeto and Tatsuko Muraoka followed the daughters' instructions, despite Joyu being a `正大師_Shōdaishi^Japanese` (the highest rank among disciples), was that Asahara had designated his children as `皇子_Kōshi^Japanese` (Imperial Princes), a rank above all other disciples. During this period of confinement, "Ohanashikai" (talk meetings) were held at least 20 times, backed by Asahara's family, to criticize Joyu. These meetings distributed timelines explaining how Joyu's "evil deeds" of denying Asahara and pursuing "heretical activities" had led him and his followers into a "demonic realm" and brought disaster to the cult, implying that Asahara's third daughter, Rika, shared these views.

Despite the strong opposition from Asahara's family and their loyal followers, Joyu managed to return to the cult in January 2004, leading to the formation of the "Joyu faction." This intensified internal conflict, splitting the cult into three factions: anti-Joyu, pro-Joyu, and neutral. According to former executive Tatsuko Muraoka, this period became a "territory battle," with Asahara's wife sending emails claiming Joyu was trying to "take over the cult." Joyu's faction gained control of some dojos, but the "Archary faction" (loyal to Asahara's family) remained strong, controlling finances and media. During his confinement, Joyu also encouraged a member of the Keroyon Club, an Aum splinter group, to report a fatal assault incident to the police, as Asahara's family was slow to react. Joyu urged the reporting member to report to the Metropolitan Police Department.

Despite Joyu's efforts, societal scrutiny continued. Japanese government officials and the media consistently regarded Aleph as a threat. Police officials reportedly advised Joyu to refrain from public activities, stating they "could not guarantee his safety."

In 2000, Joyu learned of a plan by Russian Aum members, whose organization had been outlawed in Russia, to carry out a terror attack in Japan to rescue Asahara and escape Russia. He reported this to the Russian police and the Public Security Intelligence Agency (PSIA) of the Japanese National Police Agency, working with members to prevent it. He requested the Tokyo Immigration Bureau deny entry to the involved members, but they were allowed in, prompting Joyu to dispatch his own followers to monitor them in what became known as the "Shigachov Incident."

4. Founding and Activities of Hikari no Wa

By late 2005, according to Japanese media quoting the Public Security Intelligence Agency (PSIA), which had been monitoring Aleph since 1999, the leadership of Aleph had split into two opposing factions. The fundamentalist faction sought to maintain the organization's pre-1995 ideals, while Joyu and his reformist supporters advocated a milder approach aimed at easing social tensions and reintegrating into society. These opposing factions formally split in late summer 2006. On April 30, 2006, TBS reported on the plan to establish a new cult. Joyu and his supporters, including many former Aum leaders, established a separate base in Tokyo. During this period, the "Joyu faction" used an apartment in Narashino City, Chiba Prefecture, as a dojo, but the manager demanded they vacate, which they completed in September of the same year. They then based themselves in an apartment in Minami-Karasuyama, Setagaya Ward, Tokyo. They named their new group `ひかりの輪_{Hikari no Wa}^Japanese` (The Circle of Rainbow Light). Joyu stated that many members had not yet chosen a side and remained with the opposing group. On May 10, 2007, Hikari no Wa's facility was raided by PSIA agents.

On March 8, 2007, Joyu formally withdrew from Aleph, announcing the establishment of a new organization that would completely exclude Asahara's doctrines. The next day, he launched a blog and a Mixi account, which quickly reached its 1,000-person friend limit within two days. On May 7, 2007, he officially founded Hikari no Wa and became its representative.

Joyu describes Hikari no Wa not as a religious organization, but as a learning center for Buddhist philosophy and psychology, offering yoga exercises, breathing techniques, and spiritual pilgrimages to sacred sites, including shrines, temples, and natural areas across Japan. Its activities are openly publicized on its website and YouTube channel.

The Public Security Intelligence Agency continues to view Hikari no Wa as a successor organization to Aum Shinrikyo, believing it merely feigns a break from Asahara's influence and remains dangerous, even after Asahara's execution in July 2018. This perspective underscores the deep societal distrust and the lasting trauma caused by Aum's actions.

However, the Tokyo District Court, in a September 25, 2017, ruling, stated that "it cannot be recognized that the plaintiff (Hikari no Wa) was established in accordance with Matsumoto's (Asahara's) will, which sought to organize a separate entity and engage in activities by sharing roles with it." This ruling effectively determined that Hikari no Wa was not established based on Asahara's intentions. Furthermore, a former PSIA officer with 35 years of service stated in September 2020 that audits of Hikari no Wa found it to be free from Asahara's influence and not dangerous. Internationally, the U.S. Department of State delisted Aum Shinrikyo as a "Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO)" on May 20, 2022, after 25 years, concluding that the cult no longer posed a terrorist threat.

In 2009, as the representative of Hikari no Wa, Joyu signed a compensation agreement with the Aum Shinrikyo Crime Victims Support Organization to pay damages for the Aum Shinrikyo incidents. This agreement has been consistently fulfilled. By December 31, 2013, Hikari no Wa adopted new regulations to reform itself from a religious organization into a learning center for thought and philosophy.

5. Thought and Philosophy

Fumihiro Joyu's philosophical outlook has undergone significant evolution, particularly after his departure from Aum Shinrikyo. During his time with Aleph, prior to founding Hikari no Wa, he articulated a belief that the 21st century would usher in the "Age of Aquarius," characterized by a fusion of religion and science, leading to a "spiritual scientific civilization." He also expressed a fondness for rainbows, viewing them as a divine blessing during his appointment as Aleph's representative and later describing them as having "sacred meaning" in a religious context.

However, after establishing Hikari no Wa, Joyu emphasized a shift towards "religious philosophy," advocating for the interpretation and application of religion through reason. His current philosophical stance aims to synthesize Eastern and Western thought, philosophy, psychology, and physics, with a strong emphasis on rational inquiry and critical thinking, explicitly rejecting blind faith, coercion, and superstition. He states that Hikari no Wa's learning and practice are not based on the idea of "salvation through belief," but rather encourage members to think for themselves, learn, and selectively adopt what they find convincing. He also clarifies that instructors, including himself, are merely teachers and imperfect human beings, not absolute figures.

Joyu has critically re-evaluated Aum Shinrikyo's doctrines and Shoko Asahara's leadership. He now views Asahara as a pathological figure with charismatic abilities that did not align with his personality, describing him as suffering from "grandiose delusions" and "persecutory delusions." Joyu suggests that the root of Asahara's personality problems lay in his resentment and bitterness towards his parents and society from an early age. He has detailed these criticisms extensively in his blog and published works, often drawing on insights from experts.

Specifically, Joyu points to Asahara's "fantasy-confabulation," characterized by:

An abnormally strong imagination that prioritizes fantasy over reality.
A superficial appearance of talent and erudition, with broad knowledge in various fields, but upon closer inspection, this knowledge is a fragmented collection from reading and others' conversations.
Fluent and quick-witted responses.
A preference for using difficult foreign words and intimidating language.
Skill in manipulating and captivating others' minds.
Self-centered immersion in fantasy, intolerant of criticism.
Feelings of omnipotence and fantasies of domination.
Blame-shifting.
Emphasis on practical gain.

Joyu also identifies Asahara as having "grandiose self-syndrome," marked by:

Grandiose delusions of omnipotence.
Strong self-displaying tendencies.
Delusions of being the center of the world.
Underdeveloped or lost empathy for others.
Rebellion against and submission to authority.
Strong desire for control.
Lack of guilt or self-reflection, blame-shifting, and self-justification.
Preference for fantasy and controllable environments over reality.
Persecutory delusions.
Willingness to harm others for immediate gain or pleasure, lacking a sense of morality.
Hidden aggression.

Joyu reflects on his own experience with such a figure, aiming to provide strategies to avoid falling under the influence of similar individuals. He acknowledges that he was aware of Aum Shinrikyo's research into sarin even before going to Russia, but could not oppose it at the time because, for a follower, it would have meant being subjected to `ポア_Poa^Japanese` (killing) by Asahara, similar to ordinary people.

Joyu's current philosophy, known as "one-dimensional thought" (一元思想_{ichigen shisō}^Japanese), rejects the dualistic worldview that divided society into good and evil, as practiced by Aum. This philosophy emphasizes the interconnectedness of all things. He has also stated his belief in the existence of fairies, claiming they manage plants, a view he held during his time in Aleph. He also engaged in world predictions during his Aum and Aleph periods, a practice he has since moved away from.

6. Writings and Media Presence

Fumihiro Joyu has extensively engaged with the public through various media, including books, interviews, television appearances, and online platforms, to disseminate his evolving views and participate in public discourse on religious and societal issues.

His published works, often co-authored with scholars and journalists, reflect his efforts to reflect on and summarize the Aum Shinrikyo incidents. These include:

Awakening New Century (覚醒新世紀_{Kakusei Shinseiki}^Japanese) (2002)
Fumihiro Joyu Speaks: Liberation from Suffering (上祐史浩が語る-苦悩からの解放_{Jōyū Fumihiro ga Kataru: Kunō kara no Kaihō}^Japanese) (2002)
Fumihiro Joyu Speaks 2: Liberation of Mind and the World of Mystery (上祐史浩が語る〈2〉心の解放と神秘の世界_{Jōyū Fumihiro ga Kataru 2: Kokoro no Kaihō to Shinpi no Sekai}^Japanese) (2003)
Aum Incident: 17-Year Confession (オウム事件 17年目の告白_{Ōmu Jiken 17-nenme no Kokuhaku}^Japanese) (2012), with verification by Yoshifu Arita. This book is highly regarded by critics like Shinshō Shimojō for its organization and depth in analyzing Asahara's and young believers' psychology from an insider's perspective.
Unending Aum (終わらないオウム_{Owaranai Ōmu}^Japanese) (2013), co-authored with Kunio Suzuki and Hiroyuki Jo, supervised by Sōichirō Tahara.
How to Distinguish Dangerous Religions (危険な宗教の見分け方_{Kiken na Shūkyō no Miwakekata}^Japanese) (2013), co-authored with Sōichirō Tahara.
Tokyo Subway Sarin Attack 20 Years Later: A Victim Asks Me (地下鉄サリン事件20年被害者の僕がききます_{Chikatetsu Sarin Jiken 20-nen Higaisha no Boku ga Kikimasu}^Japanese) (2015), co-authored with Atsushi Sakahara.

Since 2010, particularly with the arrests of remaining Aum fugitives like Makoto Hirata, Katsuya Takahashi, and Naoko Kikuchi in 2011-2012, public interest in Aum resurged, prompting Joyu to publish these reflective works. He has also contributed articles and given interviews to various magazines and online news outlets, including Shūkan Gendai, FRIDAY, MONEY VOICE, and Asahi Shimbun, discussing topics such as the dissolution orders for religious organizations, the Unification Church issue, and the deaths of other prominent religious leaders like Ryuho Okawa of Happy Science and Daisaku Ikeda of Soka Gakkai, offering apologies for Aum's past actions and reflecting on the future of religion in Japan.

Joyu has made numerous television appearances, including on TV Tokyo's Akira Ikegami's Election Live and Exclusive Scoop! Akira Ikegami VS 6 Aum Witnesses, and TV Asahi's Century Moments & Unsolved Cases Special and Super J Channel. He has also frequently appeared on internet programs and YouTube channels, such as Machiroku ch - Your Life, Please Tell Me (which garnered millions of views), Maruyama Gonzalez's Underworld Journey, News Op-Ed, and his own "Fumihiro Joyu / Hikari no Wa Channel," where he conducts live broadcasts. These appearances focus on his reflections on Aum, the dangers of cults, conspiracy theories, and the relationship between politics and religion.

Furthermore, Joyu actively participates in public dialogue events, engaging in discussions with politicians, university professors, business leaders, journalists, writers, entertainers, and religious figures. These include debates with author Shoko Ieda on cult issues, discussions with former Soka Gakkai member Hidekazu Nagai and other experts on religious problems, and "Satyans vs. Accident Properties" talks with property expert Teru Oshima. He has also engaged in "super-occult discussions" and "religion and politics" debates with various public figures, demonstrating his commitment to open discourse.

7. Personal Life and Episodes

Fumihiro Joyu's personal life and public image have been shaped by various experiences and anecdotes. As a child, he was a fan of popular Japanese anime and manga, including Space Battleship Yamato, Babel II, Ultraman, and Mobile Suit Gundam. His childhood was also marked by his parents' separation, which led to a period where he was reportedly seen wandering aimlessly at train stations and parks.

During his time as Aum Shinrikyo's spokesperson, his articulate and often confrontational style in media appearances earned him the nickname `ああいえば、上祐_{Aa ieba Joyu}^Japanese`, a pun on a Japanese idiom meaning someone who is excessively contrarian. This public persona, combined with his appearance, unexpectedly garnered him a large following of female fans known as "Joyu Gyaru" (Joyu Girls), who formed a fan club and expressed strong admiration, some even wishing to be his mistress or suggesting his death would preserve his mystique.

An interesting cultural reference to Joyu appears in Shuichi Shigeno's manga series Initial D, where a character named "Fumihiro" (史浩_Fumihiro^Japanese) serves as the "Foreign Affairs Manager" of a racing team, a position identical to Joyu's role in Aum Shinrikyo. The character's name and appearance have led to speculation that he was modeled after Joyu. In the sequel series, MF Ghost, a character named "Fumihiro Joyu" (上有史浩_{Jōyū Fumihiro}^Japanese) is introduced, implying he is the same person. Joyu himself commented on this on his Facebook page, noting the striking similarity in name and role, and expressing surprise that the character did not cause controversy given the social climate at the time. He also mentioned that he was unaware of Initial D until a friend who owned an AE86 informed him about it 25 years later.

Joyu has a particular fondness for rainbows, which he described as a divine blessing when he became the representative of Aleph. After establishing Hikari no Wa, he continued to describe rainbows as having a "sacred meaning." During his Aum and Aleph periods, he also engaged in making predictions about world affairs, a practice he has since moved away from. He also held a belief in the existence of fairies, stating that they manage plants, a view he expressed during his time with Aleph.

8. Social Impact and Evaluation

Fumihiro Joyu's social impact is deeply intertwined with the legacy of Aum Shinrikyo and the subsequent efforts to address its crimes. His role as a key spokesperson for the cult, particularly during the period of denial following the Tokyo subway sarin attack, placed him at the center of public outrage. He later apologized for denying Aum's responsibility, admitting that he had lied to the media and only gradually came to understand the full scope of the cult's criminal activities. This admission marked a significant step in his personal accountability.

Following his release from prison, Joyu attempted to reform the organization, first as the de facto head of Aleph, and later by founding Hikari no Wa. These efforts included admitting responsibility for the cult's crimes, issuing apologies to victims, and establishing a compensation fund, which he actively led. He has consistently sought to distance his new organization from Asahara's teachings, emphasizing a rational and philosophical approach rather than blind faith.

Despite these reformist efforts, Joyu and Hikari no Wa continue to face significant scrutiny and criticism. The Public Security Intelligence Agency (PSIA) in Japan still views Hikari no Wa as a successor to Aum Shinrikyo, believing it merely feigns a break from Asahara's influence and remains dangerous. This perspective underscores the deep societal distrust and the lasting trauma caused by Aum's actions.

However, Joyu has also received varied evaluations from other figures.

Hiroshi Totsuka**, a controversial figure known for his strict training methods, criticized Joyu as merely an "academic genius" who "betrayed his comrades to the police," while paradoxically praising Asahara's teachings as "truth."

A former Aum member described Joyu as a skilled debater who was "bad at negotiation" because he focused solely on winning arguments.

A critical moment in Joyu's public life was the execution of Shoko Asahara in July 2018. Joyu publicly supported the execution, stating that it was necessary to prevent Asahara from being deified as an "unexecuted savior" by Aleph members, which he believed would lead to further blind faith and a dangerous resurgence of the cult. He expressed relief at the execution, acknowledging his own past role as a "traitor" to Asahara, and advocated for scattering Asahara's ashes at sea to prevent their misuse for worship. His admission in 2018 of witnessing the murder of a female Aum member, and his explanation for the delay (fear for his life and not wanting to impede Asahara's execution), further highlighted the complex and dangerous dynamics within the cult.

In recent years, Joyu has continued to engage in public discourse, offering insights based on his Aum experience, particularly in discussions surrounding the Unification Church controversy in 2022. He has also commented on the deaths of other religious leaders, such as Ryuho Okawa and Daisaku Ikeda, reflecting on the changing landscape of religious leadership and the need for new approaches to religion. His ongoing public presence reflects his continued effort to address his past and contribute to a broader understanding of cults and their their impact on society.