News in Easy English: Disaster manga causes Hong Kong visitors to worry about Japan trips
TOKYO -- Many people from Hong Kong now feel afraid of visiting Japan. This worry comes from an old manga book made in 1999. Some people think the manga book tells true stories about a big earthquake or disaster coming to Japan soon. Because of these stories, fewer people from Hong Kong plan trips to Japan this year.
This manga is called "Watashi ga mita mirai" ("The future I saw"). It tells about dreams the manga artist had, and says there will be a big disaster around July 2025. The artist's name is Ryo Tatsuki. Later, in 2021, the book was printed again, and about 960,000 copies were sold. It was also sold in places like Hong Kong. The book became popular because some people thought it predicted the Great East Japan Earthquake disaster that happened in Japan in March 2011.
A Hong Kong airline called Greater Bay Airlines will have fewer flights to parts of Japan from May to October. The airline said fewer people want to come because they worry about a big disaster. Many people in Hong Kong believe these stories strongly. Because fewer passengers are buying tickets, the airline decided to cut down flights.
Tatsuki says she just writes about dreams. She hopes people will become more careful about staying safe. She said, "People can think in their own ways, but please don't get too afraid. Listen to experts and stay calm."
A Japanese professor who studies disasters says people should check the facts. He says, "Do not believe everything easily. Think carefully. Have a normal life but always be ready in case a real disaster happens."
(Japanese original by Ayane Matsuyama, Digital News Group)
Vocabulary
disaster: something very bad that happens suddenly, like earthquakes or floods.
predict: to say something may happen in the future.
airline: a company that flies people from place to place by airplane.
flight: a trip taken by airplane.
publish: to print and sell a book or magazine.
expert: a person who knows a lot about a special topic or job.
passenger: a person who travels on trains, buses, airplanes, or boats.
professor: a teacher at a university.
calm: relaxed and not worried.
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