Underground - Murakami

I’m probably a little late to read “Underground”, by Haruki Murakami, a verbal narrative of witnesses and victims of the sarin gas attacks on the Tokyo Subway system perpetrated by the religious cult, “Aum” (pronounced “Om” ), on 20 March 1995.  Here in the US we of course heard about the attacks but I would suggested forgot about them and the Japanese people shortly thereafter as the events of April  19th 1995, in Oklahoma City, soon would fill our consciousness.  A year later the Khobar towers would once again shake us in our security.  The sarin attacks although widely publicized were not generally considered terrorism but more the lunatic actions of a brainwashed following of a religious cult led by their deranged prophet, Shoko Asahara .  Cults and their deranged antics did capture US attention again in 1997 when 38 members of “Heaven’s Gate” donned their purple attire and drank cyanide laced vodka.  This kind of activity seemed apart from terrorist activity we witnessed against us and we continued along in our, “can’t happen here security”, much as the Japanese people believed, until the event’s in the Fall of 2001 changed everything.

As terrorism crept into our global psyche it’s now clear that Asahara was not only engaged in terrorism, as Aum was linked to several murders and a previous sarin attack, he was attempting to bring about or incite the apocalyptic ending of the world as he had preached…radical fundamental religious terrorism.  Can it be defined as anything else?

But back to the book, or I should say books, there are two published under the same cover.  The first book is called “Underground”, and is an exhaustive attempt by Murakami to interview the survivors of the sarin attacks.  To put names and stories behind those the Japanese media simply labeled as victims as they conducted the investigation and prosecution of the Aum cult in the open press.  These are the stories that Murakami felt were necessary to memorialize so that Japan would not forget what occurred.  

The second book, which was published as “Post-Underground” in Japan but included as a 2nd part to the English translation was called “The Place That Was Promised”.  This second part contains similar narratives obtained in interviews with Murakami but this time they are of members of the Aum cult.

The first book paints and amazing portrait of what was going on the minds of ordinary citizens who were caught up in the chaos of the sub-way attacks.  Not understanding something was wrong, sensing that something was amiss but being too committed to work and routine to literally come up for air.  They stayed below ground for too long.  Miraculously, but for the certain incompetence of the perpetrators, and albeit slow but concerned individuals in Tokyo, of the estimated 5,500 individuals who came into contact with the poisonous gas and sought treatment, only 12 exposures were fatal and 47 resulted in permanent disabilities.  

The second book, which with all due respect to the victims and their families, paints a more pertinent, albeit chilling, picture of how those simply seeking more meaning to their lives can get caught up in a movement that without rational or orthodox foundation can become lethal. 

From the first book we learn that coming together faster, when the situation changes from the routine, without panic, can save lives.  From the second book we learn the warning signs of those disenfranchised from society who are vulnerable and can be preyed upon by those with a solution, or master plan, from which evil against society can then be waged, using their disciples as pawns in their deranged schemes.  Together Murakami ‘s two books present a picture of hope, that all is not lost, and yes passive attitudes  could lead us into victimhood on either side, but “There but for the grace of God, go I” has an active side.  If it smells bad, open the window.