Two rival factions of Aum Shinrikyo plan to hold separate seminars from Thursday to Jan. 3, according to intelligence authority sources.

Aum representative Fumihiro Joyu, 43, has been distancing himself from the cult's operations since October 2003, but he plans to preach for the first time in 2 1/2 years at one of the seminars, the sources said.

The other group, led by Tatsuko Muraoka, 55, the cult's chairwoman, will hold its seminar as usual, they said.