Hiroyuki Jo Explained

is a Zainichi Korean member of, an uyoku organization, and the Mie Prefecture-based Hane-gumi branch of Yamaguchi-gumi, a yakuza organization. Jo assassinated Hideo Murai, a member of Aum Shinrikyo, on April 23, 1995.^{[1] [2]}

Charges that Kenji Kamimine (上峯 憲司), a former leader of Hane-gumi, ordered Jo to kill Murai were dismissed by the Tokyo High Court. Jo had claimed Kenji had ordered him to kill any Aum Shinrikyo leaders that he could. It is believed that this was done out of fear of the yakuza's connections to the cult being made public.^{[3] [4]}

Jo was sentenced to 12 years in prison for the murder.^[5]

Notes and References

1. News: Eric Johnston . FYI YAKUZA: From rackets to real estate, yakuza multifaceted . . 2007-02-14 . 2007-09-17 .
2. News: JAPANESE CULT LEADER DIES . https://web.archive.org/web/20101008000741/http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,3693,00.html . dead . October 8, 2010 . . 1995-04-24 . 2007-09-17 .
3. News: High court clears mob boss of ordering Murai hit . . 1999-03-29 . 2007-09-17 .
4. News: Adelstein . Jake . 2018-07-09 . Aum Shinrikyo: The Japanese Killer Cult That Wanted to Rule the World. Its Leaders Are Dead. It is Not. . en . The Daily Beast . 2023-05-07.
5. Book: Terrorism, 1992-1995: A Chronology of Events and a Selectively Annotated Bibliography. 9780313304682. Mickolus. Edward F.. Simmons. Susan L.. 1997.