カルト
かると
noun
cult
1.
cult, cult group
A fanatical religious or ideological group, often with a charismatic leader and secretive or manipulative practices. In Japanese, used primarily in the negative sense of a dangerous or harmful group.
2.
cult (following), cult classic
A work of art, film, or other cultural product with a small but passionate fan base. Used as a modifier in compounds like カルト映画 (cult film).
Usage
In Japanese, カルト most commonly refers to dangerous or harmful religious groups (sense 1). The entertainment sense (sense 2) is also well established, particularly in the compound カルト映画 (cult film).
The word gained widespread recognition in Japan after the 1995 Aum Shinrikyo incidents, and is strongly associated with the concept of dangerous religious groups in everyday usage.