Doomsday may soon be a self-fulfilling prophecy for Japan's infamous cult.
Nine years after Aum Shinrikyo carried out its second, and last, sarin attack, and its founder and guru Shoko Asahara was arrested, the cult is teetering on the financial brink, unable to attract new members and apparently reeling from an internal power struggle.
And many of its existing flock appear to be having second thoughts about the cult's religious significance.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.