Tomomitsu Niimi (新見 智光 Niimi Tomomitsu, born 1964) is a former Aum Shinrikyo member indicted for participation in the Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway and a number of other crimes. Time Magazine cover after the Sarin gas attack in Tokyo Aum Shinrikyo, now known as Aleph, is a Japanese religious group founded by Shoko Asahara. ... A wanted poster in Japan. ...

Unlike other former Aum members involved in criminal acts, Niimi delivered no apologies and stoically accepted the death sentence. During one of his earlier court hearings Niimi proclaimed his 'absolute faith' in Shoko Asahara, Aum Shinrikyo's founder and spoke about various levels of 'enlightenments' he has been able to experience during his religious trainings in Aum. He then spoke about human sufferings, saying that 'some are suffering thinking that this world is illusory and some thinking that it is real. Concerning the former members who now testify against their guru [Asahara] who did them so much good, I believe their suffering is based on the perceptions that this world is real'. Shoko Asahara (麻原 彰晃 Asahara Shōkō) (born Chizuo Matsumoto (松本智津夫 Matsumoto Chizuo) on March 2, 1955) is the founder of Japans controversial Buddhist religious group Aum Shinrikyo (now known as Aleph). ...

Together with Ikuo Hayashi, Niimi participated in 1995 Tokyo subway gas attack (there were several other perpetrators as well): Hayashi delivered the sarin-filled package and pierced it with an umbrella tip, while Niimi served as a car driver. He was also involved in Sakamoto family murder (where a lawyer preparing a lawsuit against Niimi's group was killed with his two other family members), a murder of some ex-Aum members and a number of other criminal acts. Ikuo Hayashi (林 郁夫 Hayashi Ikuo, born January 23, 1947) is a former AUM Shinrikyo member indicted for participation in the Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway. ... On October 31, 1989, Tsutsumi Sakamoto (坂本 堤 Sakamoto Tsutsumi, April 8, 1956 - November 4, 1989), a lawyer working against Aum Shinrikyo, successfully persuaded Aum leader Shoko Asahara to submit to a blood test to test for the special power that the leader claimed was present throughout his body. ...

Perhaps due to Niimi's horrendous appearance and martial arts background, he was dubbed 'the killing machine' by the press. At the time of the crimes, Niimi wasn't actually muscular at all, as apparent by the pictures taken. In 'Asanas', an Aum-published Hatha Yoga manual, half-naked Niimi is pictured in siddhasana, one of the yogic stretching exercises. One of the pre-1995 Aum-published books includes Niimi's regret regarding difficulties with sitting in padmasana due to the over-pumped muscles, a problem likely to go away since he stopped body building exercises as apparent by the shots taken. Hatha Yoga posture performed at a Hindu temple. ... The Lotus Posture The Lotus Position (Sanskrit: Padmasanam -- lotus posture) is a cross-legged sitting posture which originated in representations and meditative practices of Hinduism. ...

Niimi refused to enter a plea and received a death sentence, which he did not appeal, saying that he accepts the ruling 'gladly'. Unlike other indicted Aum followers, Niimi did not apologize to the victims. During Niimi's own trial, he once said that the victims of his crimes were an "unavoidable sacrifice for the happiness of the greatest number of people" and for this reason he "feels no regret". "I wouldn't do this in the first place, it this would be later be the case", he added.

According to the media reports, Niimi spent most of the hearings on his court process sitting 'upright', with 'eyes half-closed' and quietly 'chanting to himself', with occasional speeches 'challenging the society values'.

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