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Controversial manga sparks widespread subscription terminations in Japan

In 1999, a prophesying manga about a lethal earthquake in Japan regains popularity, leading to a 50% decrease in travel bookings and airlines slashing flights. Let's delve into the reasons behind travelers' reluctance.

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A rereliased 1999 Japanese manga foretelling a fatal earthquake has gained popularity, resulting in...
A rereliased 1999 Japanese manga foretelling a fatal earthquake has gained popularity, resulting in a 50% decrease in reservations and leading significant airlines to cut flights. Discover the reasons travelers are avoiding Japan.

Controversial manga sparks widespread subscription terminations in Japan

Japan Braces for Tourism Plunge Amid Viral Manga Prediction

A 1999 Japanese manga, Watashi ga Mita Mirai by Ryo Tatsuki, has resurfaced online, sparking a wave of anxiety and travel cancellations to Japan due to its catastrophic prediction for the summer of this year. The cartoon-style collection of dreams foretells a major disaster in Japan, culminating in a July 2025 earthquake and subsequent tsunami.

Tatsuki's manga, which had originally been published in 1999, features 15 dreams she claims to have had since childhood. These prophecies have garnered attention due to perceived connections with real events, such as the deaths of Freddie Mercury and Princess Diana, the 1995 Great Hanshin earthquake, and the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.

In the manga, Tatsuki describes a white-haired old man who supposedly delivers messages in her dreams. Some of her predictions have come true, though not always on the exact timeline she predicted, causing a divide among readers. Some consider her a prophet, while others dismiss the predictions as vague or coincidental.

The imminent prediction of a July 2025 disaster has led to cancellations of trips across Asia. In Japan, sea level predictions three times higher than the 2011 Tohoku disaster are causing concern among travelers. Tatsuki has sold close to a million copies of the manga, including a Chinese-language edition, and maintains that her work is not scientifically grounded.

"Everyone should be free to make their own interpretation. But it's important not to get overly swept up and to act based on expert advice," Tatsuki advises, while also expressing her intent to "remain vigilant as we approach July 2025."

The warning has gone viral due to Tatsuki's apparent prediction of the 2011 earthquake, Japan's seismically active position along multiple tectonic plates, and cultural beliefs such as feng shui. Popular feng shui master "Master Seven" has urged people to avoid Japan this year, causing unease in tourism markets, particularly Hong Kong, one of Japan's top five tourism markets with 2.3 million annual visitors.

Several airlines have already felt the impact, with Greater Bay Airlines and Hong Kong Airlines cutting daily flights to Japan, while Cathay Pacific is also expected to be affected. Hong Kong travel agency CLS Holiday reported a 83% drop in weekly arrival bookings for late June to early July, and sharp drops in bookings from China, Thailand, and Vietnam are also reported.

Despite efforts to calm the panic, concerns persist. Miyagi Prefecture Governor Yoshihiro Murai called the viral claims "a serious issue," while Japan's Meteorological Agency echoed his remarks, reminding the public that it is "difficult to predict an earthquake by specifying its date, time, and location."

While Tatsuki's predictions have captured public attention, there is no scientific evidence to support her specific prediction for July 2025. The scientific community relies on data and observation rather than prophetic visions. Therefore, there is no concrete evidence to support the claim of a major earthquake in Japan on July 5, 2025.

  1. The catastrophic prediction of a July 2025 earthquake and subsequent tsunami in Japan, as depicted in Ryo Tatsuki's manga, has led to the cancellation of eco-tourism trips across Asia.
  2. Tatsuki's manga, which contains 15 dreams, has gained attention for its alleged connections with real events, including the 2011 Tohoku disaster.
  3. The white-haired old man in Tatsuki's dreams, who supposedly delivers messages, has contributed to the manga's prophetic reputation, though some consider the predictions as vague or coincidental.
  4. Tour operators are feeling the impact of this viral prediction, with reports of sharp drops in booking for holiday tours to Japan, particularly from Hong Kong, China, Thailand, and Vietnam.
  5. Airlines like Greater Bay Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines, and Cathay Pacific have already reduced their flights to Japan due to this travel plunge.
  6. In the face of this travel news, the Meteorological Agency of Japan reminds the public that it is challenging to predict an earthquake by specifying its date, time, and location, emphasizing the importance of relying on data and observation rather than prophetic visions.

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