In February 1993 members of Aum Shinrikyo cult traveled to Russia including among them a mechanical engineering graduate of the Tokyo Institute of Technology. Through a Russian contact they were able to tour several arms production plants and glean information on handling various weapons and explosives. During these lectures hours of video footage was taken to document the operation and mechanics of each weapon. At some point during these exchanges a single AK74 rifle was illegally procured with orders directly from leader Shoko Asahara to be smuggled back to Japan. This would serve as a template for the group to produce a rifle of their own.

Members of Aum Shinrikyo handling A PKM at Russian arms plant

After a small iron works in Kanazawa went bankrupt it was purchased by the group with the aim of producing the rifles. The ultimate goal revealed in later hearings was to be able to arm followers who during the ‘future apocalypse’ would rise up and establish a new government.

Ironworks in Kanazawa purchased by the Aum.

By Jan 1st 1995 a prototype was completed and presented to Shoko Asahara who was informed the armament plan was steadily progressing. However in mid March, a tip off from inside the Self-Defence Forces had alerted Asahara that a police raid was about to take place on facilities owned by the group. Production on the rifles was ordered to cease and component parts to be hidden. On the 20th of March 1995 five members released sarin nerve gas on the Tokyo subway system killing 14 people, seriously injuring 54 and causing effects to as many as 1000 commuters. The obedient followers were told the attack was intended to ‘initiate the apocalypse’ while It was later speculated to have been an effort intended to divert police resources away from the group. Previously Aum had conducted an attack outside an apartment in Matsumoto where three judges overseeing a real-estate lawsuit against the group where staying. A converted refrigeration truck was used to disperse the gas into the surrounding neighborhood killing eight people and injuring up to 500. The later diversion attempt failed resulting in a large scale raid on the Aum headquarters at the foot of Mount Fuji leading to the discovery of explosives, chemical and biological weapons as well as a Russian Mil Mi-17 helicopter. The AK74 copies and components produced by the group were later discovered, only a handful having been produced.

Components of AK74 copy manufactured by Aum Shinrikyo.

Press photo showing three AK74 copies and other weapons seized.

Sarin nerve gas production facility used by Aum Shinrikyo

On July 6th 2018 Shoko Asahara along with six members responsible for the 1995 subway attack were executed. Aum Shinrikyo continues to exist under the name Aleph and is reported to have around 1,650 members.