‘New Baba Vanga' predicts disaster through manga: Know what will happen in Japan on July 5?

Time of India

a day ago

'New Baba Vanga' predicts disaster through manga
In an unusual fusion of pop culture, prophecy, and public panic, Japan is grappling with a chilling forecast from a manga artist whose past predictions have proven disturbingly accurate.
Ryo Tatsuki, a reclusive illustrator and self-proclaimed psychic, issued a foreboding warning in the 2021 edition of her graphic novel The Future I Saw—a 'disaster' would befall Japan on July 5, 2025. While such claims are often dismissed as superstition, Tatsuki's eerily precise past forecasts such as the March 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami have made this new prediction impossible for many to ignore.
The reverberations are already being felt.
International travel to Japan is seeing a significant dip, particularly from Asian nations, as fear spreads on social media. This article unpacks the origins of Tatsuki's prediction, the public response, expert criticism, and what it means for Japan's tourism-dependent economy as July approaches.
Who is Japan's
Baba Vanga
Ryo Tatsuki? The psychic manga artist with a prophetic pen
Ryo Tatsuki is not your average manga creator. Known for her dream-based prophecies, she first gained serious attention when readers noted that her 1999 prediction of a 'great disaster in March 2011' aligned almost exactly with the real-world Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami that struck on March 11, 2011, an event that left over 15,000 people dead and caused the Fukushima nuclear disaster.
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Tatsuki's book, The Future I Saw, is a surreal blend of art, dreams, and predictions, with each edition containing new 'premonitions' that have startled readers with their specificity. Her track record includes eerily timed mentions of the deaths of Princess Diana, Freddie Mercury, and even the COVID-19 pandemic, long before these events took place.
Her prediction for July 5, 2025, simply states that something terrible will happen in Japan.
The ambiguity of the warning; no details, no specific location has added to the growing unease.
Tatsuki's manga forecast goes viral: Why Japan fears July 5, 2025
Tatsuki's 2021 edition of The Future I Saw includes a brief but ominous note: 'On July 5, 2025, a great catastrophe will happen in Japan.' While no further details are provided, the gravity of the message has sparked widespread online speculation, fueled by her previous accuracy.
What makes this different from other internet hoaxes or sensational predictions is that Tatsuki's work has been circulated in Japan for decades, and her cult following includes readers who swear by her visions.
The prediction's reemergence in 2024, thanks to coverage from VICE and Bloomberg, has turned a once-overlooked comic panel into a national discussion point.
New Baba Vanga
prediction effect: Tourists cancel Japan trips over manga prophecy
One of the most tangible consequences of the July 5 prediction is the steep decline in inbound tourism to Japan for that week. A Bloomberg Intelligence report found that:
Flight and hotel bookings from Hong Kong for early July have dropped by nearly 50% year-over-year.
Bookings between late June and early July have plunged by as much as 83% in some segments.
Tourists from China, Thailand, and Vietnam are reportedly canceling or postponing trips specifically to avoid being in Japan on or around the predicted date.
While Japanese officials continue to reassure the public, the fear has clearly translated into financial consequences.
The Japanese tourism industry, already recovering from COVID-19 travel restrictions, faces a fresh obstacle rooted not in policy or health, but prophecy.
Government response: 'Ignore the Rumors,' says Governor
Miyagi Prefecture Governor Yoshihiro Murai addressed the prediction during a recent press conference, expressing concern about its influence.
'It would be a major problem if the spread of unscientific rumors on social media had an effect on tourism,'
Murai stated.
'There is no reason to worry because the Japanese are not fleeing abroad… I hope people will ignore the rumors and visit.'
However, despite official reassurances, Japanese media coverage continues to echo public curiosity and concern. Social media platforms, especially in Asia, have become echo chambers for the prophecy, with hashtags related to '#July5Disaster' trending intermittently in recent weeks.
What has Tatsuki accurately predicted
Skeptics may scoff, but Tatsuki's prophecy track record is worth noting. Some of her earlier predictions include:
March 2011 Disaster: Predicted a 'massive catastrophe' in March 2011, a match with the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.
Freddie Mercury's death
: She reportedly foresaw the Queen frontman's death before his HIV/AIDS diagnosis was public.
Princess Diana's fatal crash
: Another claim published years before her tragic accident in Paris in 1997.
COVID-19 Pandemic
: Her book mentioned a 'global respiratory crisis' beginning in the early 2020s, accompanied by societal upheaval.
2030 virus return
: Perhaps most alarming is her prediction that COVID-19 will resurge in 2030 in a deadlier form.
Should we believe it? Experts warn against panic
Scientists and disaster experts are urging the public not to overreact. As Professor Nobuo Furuya from Kyoto University told Asahi Shimbun:
'While past coincidences are striking, psychic predictions are not grounded in any observable or scientific methodology. Preparedness is important, but panic based on vague predictions is not advisable.'
Even Tatsuki herself has urged readers to be cautious about how they interpret her work. In a rare interview with The Guardian, she said:
'It's important not to be unnecessarily influenced… and to listen to the opinions of experts.'
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