Flights Reduced as Earthquake 'Prophecy' Spooks Hong Kong Travelers
A "prophecy" circulating on social media in Hong Kong claims that a major earthquake will hit Japan in July. In response, Hong Kong-based Greater Bay Airlines has announced it will reduce flights between Hong Kong and Japan. The airline will cut one round trip per week from each of its routes: four weekly flights to Sendai and three to Tokushima.
These changes will be in effect from May 13 to October 25. The airline cited a drop in passenger numbers driven by the so-called prophecy as the reason for the reduction.
Hiroki Ito, head of Greater Bay Airlines' Japan office, said, "In February, we saw spring bookings fall by about 30% compared to our projections."
He added, "After looking into it, we found that many people in Hong Kong believed the 'prophecy.' With further declines expected as July approaches, we decided to scale back flights in order to maintain the viability of the routes." Tourists crowd an area near Kyomizdudera in Kyoto.
According to Hong Kong media, the rumor originated from the manga The Future I Saw: Complete Edition (2022) by artist Ryo Tatsuki, which is also available in Chinese. The speculation was sparked by a line in the book stating, "The real catastrophe will come in July 2025." Tatsuki previously gained attention for allegedly "predicting" the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake in a manga published in 1996.
Additionally, a well-known feng shui master in Hong Kong claimed that the risk of earthquakes in Japan will be higher between June and August.
Concerns grew further after Japan's Central Disaster Management Council released updated damage projections for a potential Nankai Trough megathrust earthquake. On April 14, the Chinese Embassy in Japan urged Chinese residents to take disaster preparedness measures.
At an April 17 press conference, Tokushima Governor Masazumi Gotoda recalled a conversation with Greater Bay Airlines CEO Liza Ng, during which she shared concerns about the situation in Hong Kong.
He said, "Disasters can happen anywhere. What matters is having systems in place to protect both our citizens and visitors in case of an emergency."
At a press conference on April 23, Miyagi Governor Yoshihiro Murai commented, "It's a serious issue when unscientific claims spread on social media and impact tourism. Japanese people aren't fleeing the country, so I want to reassure everyone to please visit Japan with peace of mind."
The Japan Meteorological Agency states on its website: "In general, information that predicts the specific date and location of an earthquake is considered to be a hoax."
( Read the article in Japanese . )
Author: The Sankei Shimbun
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