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Metropolis Japan
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metropolis Japan
Will There Be a Giant Natural Disaster in Japan This July?
Image is for illustration purposes only. Travelers from across Asia are canceling trips to Japan after a comic book by manga-profit Ryo Tatsuki warned of a natural disaster in July 2025. Tatsuki predicts a massive tsunami will strike in early July—and her track record has people spooked. She previously 'predicted' both the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami and the outbreak of a pandemic in April 2020, years before either occurred. In 2021, manga artist Ryo Tatsuki had a disturbing dream. She watched from above as the ocean floor between Japan and the Philippines cracked open and rose to the surface, sending massive waves to Japan. She says she saw text flash across a black screen, movie-style. 'The real catastrophe will come on July 5, 2025.' Tatsuki's cult-favorite comic series, The Future I Saw was published in 1999, chronicling her prophetic dreams. Some of her predictions had already occurred at the time of publishing, like the death of Freddie Mercury and the 1995 Kobe Earthquake. However, the manga truly built a following after she accurately predicted the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. Her fame surged again in 2020 when fans noticed that the manga had also included a reference to a global pandemic that would begin in April 2020. Cover of The Future I Saw by Ryo Tatsuki (1999 version) The cover reads: 'Great disaster in March 2011' (published 1999) With each event that seemed to line up with her dreams, her reputation grew. Social media creators and news outlets began referring to her as 'Japan's Baba Vanga,' likening her to the Bulgarian mystic known for her apocalyptic predictions. The comic was also recently re-released as The Future I Saw: The Complete Version . The edition has already sold over 700,000 copies in Japan alone. It compiles her original dreams alongside her most chilling one yet: her vision of a giant tsunami hitting Japan in July 2025. The implication is clear: she was right before, so what if she's right again? View this post on Instagram A post shared by STEVEN W. (@allstarsteven) And while it's easy to laugh it off, these kinds of stories strike a chord. Earthquakes in Japan aren't hypothetical. Everyone here has a memory of a big one. Everyone has a go-bag packed. So when a manga taps into that fear, it doesn't take much for it to go viral. Travel agencies across Asia are reporting a surprising drop in bookings to Japan, and they're pointing fingers at the comic. The steepest drops are coming from Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea—the places where the prediction seems to have caught the most attention. According to The Guardian, citing Bloomberg Intelligence and ForwardKeys data, average bookings from Hong Kong are down 50% compared to last year. And for late June to early July, right when the so-called disaster is supposed to hit, bookings have fallen by as much as 83%. Meanwhile, Greater Bay Airlines and Hong Kong Airlines are cutting down on their Japan-bound flights. Of course, Japan's Meteorological Agency has made it clear: there's no scientific way to predict an earthquake this far in advance. In fact, there's still no reliable method to predict one, even a few minutes before it strikes. Tatsuya Honjo, head of the Association for Skeptical Investigation of the Supernatural (ASIOS), has publicly pushed back on Tatsuki's reputation as a seer. He points out that many of her earlier predictions never came true—and that her correct ones could just be lucky guesses. The cover of her first manga even listed dates like July 2, 1994 and November 26, 1995, which passed without incident. Even Tatsuki herself admits to Bunshun Online in an interview, 'To be honest, I can't say for sure what this dream really meant. I've always been the type who wants to understand the cause behind things, so I don't feel entirely convinced myself. That said, after what happened with the Great East Japan Earthquake, I also can't say with 100% certainty that something won't happen.' As Honjo comments, when a prediction appears to align with a real event—like March 11, 2011—people remember that one, not the duds. You could argue this story went viral because it hit a generation raised on earthquakes, media sensationalism and social media anxiety. This image is for illustration purposes only. But also, it's just a good story. It has suspense, visuals and a message of redemption—because in her dreams, the disaster isn't the end. According to Tatsuki, the world changes after July 2025. In a dream she had on January 1, 2001, she saw a bright future where people cooperate and connect more deeply. An 'age of mind,' she calls it. If that sounds like new-age fluff, you're not wrong. But in an era when hope feels harder to come by, it's part of the appeal. Short answer: There's no scientific research to say that you should. Japan remains one of the safest countries in the world to visit, with a robust disaster-response system and some of the most earthquake-resistant architecture globally. Japan's natural disaster experts and scientists have warned of no particular event to watch out for in July. If you're planning a trip, at any time, the best thing you can always do is prepare well. We've put together a few guides to help. Start with Earthquake and Tsunami Preparedness in Tokyo: Evacuation Tips and Access Guides. And if you're packing, don't miss our Emergency Evacuation Backpack List for a quick, practical checklist. For the ultimate learning experience, try an earthquake simulator at on of Tokyo's disaster prevention centers. Canceling your trip based on a dream from a manga artist? That's a personal choice. But it's not one yet backed by science. Still, stories like this remind us just how powerful fiction can be—not only to entertain but to influence behavior, reshape perception and create real-world consequences. Even in the age of data and digital alerts, it turns out we're still deeply superstitious creatures.
Sydney Morning Herald
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Asian tourist numbers to Japan are plummeting. A comic book is to blame
Holiday bookings to Japan from key Asian markets have plunged ahead of the busy summer season. The cause: rumors of an impending earthquake prophesied in a manga graphic novel. Social media and viral posts have unsettled travellers and renewed attention to manga artist Ryo Tatsuki's prediction of a huge earthquake that would inundate Japan with tsunami waves. Tatsuki, whom some claim predicted Japan's 2011 earthquake, gives July 2025 as the date of the impending event in a graphic novel that was first published back in 1999. The manga was republished in 2021 with additional content and the quake speculation has gotten new life on social media recently, with YouTube videos and Facebook posts that warn people of travelling to Japan attracting millions of views. Though scientists say the exact timing of earthquakes can't be predicted, airline bookings from Taiwan, South Korea and Hong Kong have dropped since April — with bookings from the latter plunging by an average of 50 per cent versus a year ago, according to a Bloomberg Intelligence analysis of ForwardKeys data. Weekly arrival bookings for late June to early July from the Asian financial hub have also nosedived by as much as 83 per cent. Greater Bay Airlines and Hong Kong Airlines have both scaled back some flights to Japan this month as officials implore the general public not to give stock to the rumours. Yoshihiro Murai, the governor of Miyagi prefecture, said last month the rumours were starting to affect tourism and asked people to not take the speculation seriously. Japan's Meteorological Agency's website reminded people that current science can't predict tremors with any high accuracy. Japan's location in the so-called Ring of Fire, a region of heightened tectonic activity encircling the Pacific Ocean, makes it one of the world's most earthquake-prone countries. Japan's last major earthquake was in 2011, which caused a devastating tsunami and nuclear disaster in Fukushima. Even so, overall tourism to Japan remains buoyant. In April, Japan recorded a record-breaking 3.9 million foreign visitors, lured by the cheap yen.
The Age
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
Asian tourist numbers to Japan are plummeting. A comic book is to blame
Holiday bookings to Japan from key Asian markets have plunged ahead of the busy summer season. The cause: rumors of an impending earthquake prophesied in a manga graphic novel. Social media and viral posts have unsettled travellers and renewed attention to manga artist Ryo Tatsuki's prediction of a huge earthquake that would inundate Japan with tsunami waves. Tatsuki, whom some claim predicted Japan's 2011 earthquake, gives July 2025 as the date of the impending event in a graphic novel that was first published back in 1999. The manga was republished in 2021 with additional content and the quake speculation has gotten new life on social media recently, with YouTube videos and Facebook posts that warn people of travelling to Japan attracting millions of views. Though scientists say the exact timing of earthquakes can't be predicted, airline bookings from Taiwan, South Korea and Hong Kong have dropped since April — with bookings from the latter plunging by an average of 50 per cent versus a year ago, according to a Bloomberg Intelligence analysis of ForwardKeys data. Weekly arrival bookings for late June to early July from the Asian financial hub have also nosedived by as much as 83 per cent. Greater Bay Airlines and Hong Kong Airlines have both scaled back some flights to Japan this month as officials implore the general public not to give stock to the rumours. Yoshihiro Murai, the governor of Miyagi prefecture, said last month the rumours were starting to affect tourism and asked people to not take the speculation seriously. Japan's Meteorological Agency's website reminded people that current science can't predict tremors with any high accuracy. Japan's location in the so-called Ring of Fire, a region of heightened tectonic activity encircling the Pacific Ocean, makes it one of the world's most earthquake-prone countries. Japan's last major earthquake was in 2011, which caused a devastating tsunami and nuclear disaster in Fukushima. Even so, overall tourism to Japan remains buoyant. In April, Japan recorded a record-breaking 3.9 million foreign visitors, lured by the cheap yen.
Daily Mirror
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Tourists shun country after mystic who 'predicted tsunami' warns of new threat
Ryo Tatsuki, who published 'The Future I Saw' in 1999. It warned of a major disaster in March 2011 - a date that indeed coincided with a huge earthquake in Japan that caused a devastating tsunami Holiday bookings have dipped sharply in one part of the world as some fear a comic book's predictions could come true. While speculation found in the pages of a manga comic may not sound like the kind of thing to have real-world consequences, it certainly has in one country. And that impact is set to intensify. A recent spate of so-called earthquake-related 'predictions' has led to a number of travellers in east Asia to cancel or delay their holidays, CNN Travel reports. Fear of a "big one" in Japan has been mounting for years. The country sits on a seismic fault line and is no stranger to tremors. In fact, the country experiences around 1,500 noticeable earthquakes each year, according to the EarthScope Consortium and These earthquakes occur daily, though many are too small to be felt. The most recent major earthquake in Japan was the 2011 Tōhoku Earthquake, which hit on March 11, 2011 with a 9.0 magnitude force. It caused a massive tsunami that claimed thousands of lives and led to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. Given that context, anxiety about a similar event seems understandable. Particularly for those who read the work of manga artist Ryo Tatsuki, who published 'The Future I Saw' in 1999. It warned of a major disaster in March 2011 - a date that indeed coincided with a huge earthquake. Four years ago Tatsuki published an updated version of the work which predicted another earthquake, this one in July 2025. At the same time, physics in the country and over in Honh Kong have begun to make similar predictions. Seismologists find it hard enough to predict earthquakes with any real accuracy, let alone comic book artists and soothsayers. Yet the warnings are not being ignored. CN Yuen, managing director of WWPKG, a travel agency based in Hong Kong, told CNN that bookings to Japan dropped by half during the Easter holiday. They are expected to dip further in the coming two months. Visitors from China and Hong Kong, which are Japan's second and fourth biggest source of tourists, have dropped significantly. In Thailand and Vietnam posts online warning of earthquake danger have been gaining traction. The impact of her latest prediction is also being felt in South Korea and Taiwan, according to Bloomberg Intelligence. It used ForwardKeys data to gauge the impact on airline bookings and found that average bookings from Hong Kong were down 50% year-on-year. Flights between late June and early July had plummeted by as much as 83%. 'We expected around 80% of the seats to be taken, but actual reservations came to only 40%,' Hiroki Ito, the general manager of the airline's Japan office, told the Asahi Shimbun following the sharp dip in travel over Easter. "The quake speculations are definitely having a negative impact on Japan tourism and it will slow the boom temporarily,' said Eric Zhu, Bloomberg Intelligence's analyst for aviation and defense. "Travelers are taking a risk-adverse approach given the plethora of other short-haul options in the region.' As a result of her late 90s predictions, Tatsuki has become a famous figure in Japan, selling 900,000 copies of that coming alone. Some claim she also forsaw the deaths of Princess Diana and singer Freddie Mercury, and the Covid-19 pandemic. Others argue that her predictions are too vague and should not be taken seriously, especially when it comes to a subject as serious and deadly as natural disasters.
The Star
24-05-2025
- The Star
Travellers avoid trips to Japan over viral comic book's quake prediction
Though scientists say the exact timing of earthquakes can't be predicted, airline bookings have dropped since April. - Photo: AFP TOKYO: Holiday bookings to Japan from key Asian markets have plunged ahead of the busy summer season. The cause: Rumors of an impending earthquake prophesied in a manga graphic novel. Social media and viral posts have unsettled travelers and renewed attention to manga artist Ryo Tatsuki's prediction of a huge earthquake that would inundate Japan with tsunami waves. Tatsuki, whom some claim predicted Japan's 2011 earthquake, gives July 2025 as the date of the impending event in a graphic novel that was first published back in 1999. The manga was republished in 2021 with additional content and the quake speculation has gotten new life on social media recently, with YouTube videos and Facebook posts that warn people of traveling to Japan attracting millions of views. Though scientists say the exact timing of earthquakes can't be predicted, airline bookings from Taiwan, South Korea and Hong Kong have dropped since April - with bookings from the latter plunging by an average of 50% versus a year ago, according to a Bloomberg Intelligence analysis of ForwardKeys data. Weekly arrival bookings for late June to early July from the Asian financial hub have also nosedived by as much as 83%. Greater Bay Airlines and Hong Kong Airlines have both scaled back some flights to Japan this month as officials implore the general public not to give stock to the rumors. Yoshihiro Murai, the governor of Miyagi prefecture, said last month the rumors were starting to affect tourism and asked people to not take the speculation seriously. Japan's Meteorological Agency's website reminded people that current science can't predict tremors with any high accuracy. Japan's location in the so-called Ring of Fire, a region of heightened tectonic activity encircling the Pacific Ocean, makes it one of the world's most earthquake-prone countries. Japan's last major earthquake was in 2011, which caused a devastating tsunami and nuclear disaster in Fukushima. Even so, overall tourism to Japan remains buoyant. In April, Japan recorded a record-breaking 3.9 million foreign visitors, lured by the cheap yen. "The quake speculations are definitely having a negative impact on Japan tourism and it will slow the boom temporarily,' said Eric Zhu, Bloomberg Intelligence's analyst for aviation and defense. "Travelers are taking a risk-adverse approach given the plethora of other short-haul options in the region.' Zhu expects more airlines to feel some pain over the next few months based on current booking patterns and anticipated flight loads. Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. may be particularly at risk given its high exposure to the Japanese tourism market. The group, which includes Hong Kong Express, is planning to devote nearly a fifth of its scheduled seats to Japan through the fall, making it the largest international market for the airlines, Zhu said in a note. Tatsuki's work - The Future I Saw - is based on a dream in which a tsunami inundates the Japanese archipelago and impacts Hong Kong, Taiwan and the Philippines. The rumors have also been fueled by a prominent Hong Kong feng shui master who doles out predictions to a large online following and urged holiday seekers to avoid Japan. Others have seized on a February report by a Japanese government earthquake task force that's long monitored seismic activity along the Nankai Trough and that's raised the risk of a mega earthquake that could trigger 100-foot tsunamis within the next 30 years to around 80%. For her part, Tatsuki, now retired and still living in Japan, said the high level of interest reflects the growing awareness of disaster preparedness. "I, myself, would like to take precautions such as stockpiling supplies in preparation for disasters and confirming evacuation routes when going out,' she said in a statement to Bloomberg. "I intend to remain vigilant on a daily basis as we approach July 2025.' - Bloomberg
