Recruitment

At its greatest, the cult amassed an estimated following of around 65,000. About 30,000 - 50,000 of them lived in Russia. A large number of Japanese members were well educated and in their 20's and 30's; all of whom dropped out of Japanese society in favor of the cult.

Recruiting techniques handled by Aum's New Followers Agency were highly successful and aggressive. Techniques included but were not limited to: distributing pamphlets on the streets, advertising in yoga and meditation classes at universities, advertising in noodle shops and book stores, and the use of radio and television in Moscow.

Additionally, reluctant members were brainwashed using torture techniques involving LSD, sleep deprivation and isolation therapy. Former members were sometimes kidnapped and tortured.

More unsettling, is the reported 20 members of the Japanese military that joined the cult and trained fellow members military training. Aum Shinrikyo claims about 100 members of the Japanese military joined.

Aum Shinrikyo became so successfully intertwined with Japanese culture, that even after the deadly subway sarin attacks in march 20 1995, recruitment rates were still as high as ever. Despite the murderous history of the cult, Fumihiro Joyu, who would come to replace Asahara as the spokesperson of the cult, was seen by thousands of young girls as an idol because of his looks.

Despite his hatred for capitalism, Asahara once payed big money for a cartoon about the cult to be made.