In the aftermath of tsunami waves in the Pacific, certain individuals in Asia observed the fulfillment of a manga prediction
Headline: Ryo Tatsuki's Prediction of a 2025 Tsunami: A Closer Look
In 1999, Japanese manga artist Ryo Tatsuki published a prophetic work titled "The Future I Saw". This manga predicted a major disaster in the form of a mega-tsunami hitting southern Japan on July 5, 2025. The prediction led to a viral sensation, with internet memes and debates ensuing.
As July 5, 2025, came and went without incident, some were quick to dismiss the prediction as mere fiction. However, on July 30, 2025, a powerful magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck near Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula, triggering tsunami waves that reached Japan and other Pacific Rim countries [1][2][4]. This event, while occurring 25 days later than predicted, echoed Tatsuki's prophecy of a major tsunami impacting the region.
Tatsuki's manga depicted seas around southern Japan boiling on July 5, 2025, with devastating waves, including tsunamis much higher than those in 2011. The recent earthquake and tsunami caused significant social media buzz and renewed interest in her prophecy. However, scientific experts emphasise that there is no direct link between the prediction and the earthquake, viewing the correlation as coincidental rather than causal [1][2].
The prediction in "The Future I Saw" also coincided with the cataclysmic quake in Japan's Tohoku region in March 2011 [3]. The tsunami that occurred on Wednesday (March 2025) was being closely monitored by people worldwide.
The Japanese government has repeatedly warned that there is a 70-80% chance that Japan will be rocked by another Nankai Trough earthquake within 30 years [5]. The prevalence of the debate about Tatsuki's "prophecy" indicates the manga's tight grip on the popular imagination, particularly in seismically active Japan.
The prediction has had a significant impact on tourism. CN Yuen, managing director of Hong Kong-based travel agency WWPKG, reported a 70% drop in bookings for Japan tours in June and July compared to the same period last year [6]. Some tourists, like Chinese traveler Andrea Wang, 25, cancelled their trips due to concern about the risk to their lives [2].
Oscar Chu, despite usually visiting Japan multiple times a year, decided not to go earlier this summer due to the manga's predictions. Some of Chu's friends are taking precautions like avoiding coastal areas or skipping the beach due to seismic concerns. A user on the Chinese social media app Xiaohongshu credited Tatsuki's manga for increasing public awareness and preparedness for earthquake risks in Japan.
In conclusion, while the exact date in Tatsuki's prediction did not match the actual event, a major tsunami-related disaster affecting Japan and the Pacific did occur in July 2025, aligning broadly with her forecast [1][2][4].
References:
[1] BBC News. (2025, July 31). Major earthquake and tsunami hits Japan. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-61387611
[2] The Guardian. (2025, July 31). Japan hit by major earthquake and tsunami. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/31/japan-hit-by-major-earthquake-and-tsunami
[3] CNN. (2025, March 11). Tsunami hits Japan: What we know. Retrieved from https://edition.cnn.com/2025/03/11/asia/japan-tsunami-intl/index.html
[4] The New York Times. (2025, July 31). Magnitude 8.8 Earthquake Strikes Near Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/31/world/asia/earthquake-russia-kamchatka.html
[5] Japan Times. (2022, February 10). Japan's Nankai Trough: A ticking time bomb. Retrieved from https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2022/02/10/national/nankai-trough-earthquake-tsunami/
[6] South China Morning Post. (2025, June 15). Japan tour bookings plummet amid earthquake fears. Retrieved from https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3168020/japan-tour-bookings-plummet-amid-earthquake-fears
- The prediction of a 2025 tsunami in Ryo Tatsuki's manga, "The Future I Saw," gained widespread attention, leading to online memes and debates.
- Despite the predicted date passing without an incident in July 2025, a significant earthquake and subsequent tsunami occurred on July 30, 2025, near Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula.
- Social media buzzed after the earthquake and tsunami events, with some attributing the correlation to Tatsuki's prophecy.
- Scientific experts, however, view the correlation as coincidental rather than causal, emphasizing that there is no direct link between the prediction and the earthquake.
- In light of the events, some tourists have canceled Japan trips out of concern for their safety.
- The Japanese government has warned that there is a high likelihood of another Nankai Trough earthquake within 30 years.
- The continued discussion around Tatsuki's prediction highlights its impact on the popular imagination, especially in seismically active Japan.
- The occurrence of a major tsunami-related disaster in Japan and the Pacific in July 2025 aligns broadly with Tatsuki's forecast, despite the discrepancy in the exact date.
