Initially, the Japanese government wanted to dissolve the cult, and stripped it of its religious status.

However, in 1999, the Public Security Commission, an independent agency, deemed, after the government tried to invoke the Antisubversive Activities Law, the cult no longer fulfulled the conditions for dissolution, as it has been declared bankrupt and most of its followers who were wanted by police had been arrested.

Consequently, the Diet voted a law allowing for the surveillance of any group having commited mass murder.

Source:

• "Government to tighten control on AUM activities", Kyodo, May 24, 1999
• "Drafts for Aum control bills unveiled", Japan Times, October 27, 1999
• "Japan OKs Laws To Restrain Cult", Associated Press, December 3, 1999

EDIT: Fixed list formatting