A decades-old manga is stirring unease across East Asia, as a reissued volume predicts a catastrophic earthquake and tsunami will strike Japan on 5 July 2025. Watashi ga Mita Mirai (‘The Future I Saw’) has sparked travel cancellations, fuelled online speculation, and left experts working to distinguish fiction from fact.

A Manga Resurfaces with Ominous Claims

Originally self-published in 1999 by Ryo Tatsuki, Watashi ga Mita Mirai gained little attention until a retrospective link was made between its reference to a ‘major disaster in March 2011’ and the Tohoku earthquake and Fukushima nuclear crisis. Tatsuki re-released the manga in October 2021 with a new prediction that the ocean floor between Japan and the Philippines will fracture, triggering a tsunami three times the height of the 2011 waves, allegedly on 5 July 2025.

The updated edition has since become a bestseller in Japan, shifting the manga’s role from speculative fiction to a source of widespread public concern.

Real-World Ripple Effects

The manga’s reappearance has spread beyond fan circles. Social media platforms in Hong Kong, Taiwan, mainland China, and South Korea have amplified the prophecy, fuelling travel hesitancy. Travel agencies in Hong Kong report that Japan-related bookings have halved, while carriers including Greater Bay Airlines and Hong Kong Airlines have reduced or suspended flights to cities such as Sendai, Tokushima, and Kagoshima.

Economists estimate that if the trend continues, Japan could face a tourism revenue loss of up to ¥560 billion (approximately £2.8 billion or US$3.9 billion).

Earthquakes Near Tokara Islands Raise Anxiety

Coinciding with the renewed attention, southern Japan has experienced an intense swarm of earthquakes centred around the Tokara Islands. More than 900 tremors, some reaching magnitude 5.5, were recorded in late June. Authorities temporarily evacuated Akuseki Island after over 1,000 quakes rattled the region. While no tsunami warnings have been issued, the seismic activity has amplified public anxiety and lent superficial credibility to the manga’s prediction.

What Do Experts and Authorities Say?

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has firmly dismissed the prediction, stating that the timing of earthquakes cannot be determined with scientific accuracy. ‘Warnings tied to the manga are unreliable,’ the agency said. Editorials in regional newspapers have also criticised the manga’s claims, warning against fearmongering based on unverified sources.

Nonetheless, Japan’s exposure to major seismic risk remains real. The government has warned of a 75–82% probability that a Nankai Trough megaquake could strike within the next 30 years, an event that could kill up to 300,000 people and result in losses exceeding US$2 trillion.

In response to growing unease, local authorities have stepped in. Miyagi Governor Yoshihiro Murai described the manga’s influence as ‘a problem’, urging residents not to rely on pseudoscientific rumours. Prefectural tourism boards are actively working to calm fears and reinforce preparedness messages.

While many East Asian tourists have postponed summer travel to Japan, domestic reactions remain more restrained. Reddit users in Japan note that most locals are sceptical, with one comment reading, ‘Not many, including myself, gave this much thought.’ Still, nearly half of Japanese survey respondents report having heard of the prediction.

Though entirely fictional, the prophecy in Watashi ga Mita Mirai has unexpectedly influenced public perception, tourism, and preparedness discourse. With 5 July approaching, authorities are urging calm and emphasising the importance of credible sources and readiness without giving way to panic.

(NewsNation) — Airlines in Japan are cancelling flights after a drop in sales linked to a manga from the 1990s that predicted a disaster.

Artist and author Ryo Tatsuki published “Watashi ga Mita Mirai,” which translates to “The Future I Saw,” in 1999. She calls the book a dream journal and says it’s based on her recorded dreams.

According to some, Tatsuki has been accurate in the past.

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Tatsuki’s first dream was in 1991, when she saw a man with a brilliant personality and striking looks who died, months before Freddie Mercury passed away.

Some, however, have called that dream a coincidence rather than a prediction.

Another dream, recorded in 1995, included a violent earthquake hitting Kobe, Japan, Tatsuki’s hometown. On Jan. 17, 1995, a 6.9 magnitude earthquake hit the area, killing 6,000 and leaving 45,000 homeless.

In another entry from 1991, Tatsuki wrote of a “huge catastrophe” to take place in March 2011. That prediction appeared to foreshadow a 9.1 magnitude earthquake that would be known as the “Great East Japan Earthquake.”

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The resulting tsunami killed more than 16,000 people and left 2,500 missing.

The book, which had a 2021 reprint, referenced a real catastrophe coming on July 5, 2025.

Tatsuki has said she is unsure if the date connects to an earthquake, but she reportedly saw the sea boiling south of Japan in a dream.

Her interpretation of the dream was a volcanic eruption triggering destruction.

Some airlines have reduced flights around the date due to decreased demand, while others, including Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways, say they haven’t seen a change in bookings.

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Tatsuki’s prediction is not the only one. Feng shui master Qi Xian Yu predicted a year of disasters in 2025, including aviation disasters, complete with a warning to avoid countries including Japan and South Korea.

Experts have said there is no way to predict major earthquakes and Japanese authorities have urged people to keep visiting.

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Manga artist Ryo Tatsuki wrote in her 2021 work ‘The Future I Saw’ about a crack forming beneath the sea between Japan and the Philippines, which she claimed would trigger a tsunami three times more powerful than the one in 2011. The prediction has gone viral, especially after a small island in southern Japan recently recorded over 1,000 tremors. Some airlines have also cancelled flights from Hong Kong, where passenger numbers have seen the steepest drop read more

A massive disaster could hit Japan on July 5, according to manga artist Ryo Tatsuki’s prediction.

The forecast comes from her 2021 manga, ‘The Future I Saw’, which was first released in 1999.

In the manga, she describes a crack forming beneath the sea between Japan and the Philippines, which would lead to a tsunami said to be three times stronger than the one that struck in 2011.

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The prediction, which has now gone viral, has led some airlines to cancel flights from Hong Kong, where passenger numbers have dropped the most.

Notably, a small island in southern Japan has recently recorded over 1,000 jolts.

So, what exactly is this prediction? And what’s going on in the island that has already witnessed more than one thousand quakes?

Let’s take a look:

What is the prediction by ‘Japanese Baba Vanga’?

Manga fans believe that many of Ryo Tatsuki’s predictions, which are based on her dreams and featured in her comic book, often come true.

Her track record has led to her being called the ‘Japanese Baba Vanga’, a reference to the late Bulgarian mystic known for foreseeing major global events, including the 9/11 attacks, ISIS’s rise, and Barack Obama’s election.

The latest prediction comes from Tatsuki’s 2021 manga. She is also known for forecasting the 1995 Kobe earthquake and the 2011 Tohoku tsunami.

Whether it comes to pass or not, it’s having an effect on air travel in Japan.

The Future That I Saw 👁️

Japanese Comic Predicts Massive Disaster for July 2025 (July 5, 2025 at 4:18 a.m.)

Retired comic artist Ryo Tatsuki claims that she has been having prophetic dreams for… pic.twitter.com/WJ6eqOdF8P — UFO CHRONICLES PODCAST🎙️𝕏 (@UFOchronpodcast) July 3, 2025

In her manga, she writes that a deep crack would appear beneath the sea between Japan and the Philippines, leading to massive waves, three times taller than those that hit Japan in the 2011 disaster.

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What has added fuel to the panic is that a 5.5-magnitude earthquake struck Japan’s Tokara Islands on Thursday (July 3), two days ahead of the date mentioned in the comic.

The prediction has since gone viral, especially across East Asia, with thousands of videos being shared online in places like Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, and South Korea.

On X, several users have linked the prediction to growing fears of a possible Nankai Trough megaquake.

In the manga, she describes a crack forming beneath the sea between Japan and the Philippines. Reuters/File Photo

Over 1,000 quakes jolt Japan’s small island

Japanese officials recently advised 89 people living on a small island in the country’s south to leave their homes after a strong quake hit the area on Thursday.

This was the latest in a series of over 1,000 tremors recorded in the region.

An official told AFP that residents were asked to move to a school playground on Akuseki Island.

Akuseki belongs to the Tokara island group, located south of the Kyushu region. Since June 21, the area has experienced 1,031 earthquakes.

Of the 12 islands in the Tokara chain, seven are inhabited, with about 700 people living across them.

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What Japanese gov and Tatsuki are saying

Ryo Tatsuki, the manga artist behind the much-discussed prediction, has asked people not to take her forecast too seriously.

In a recent interview, she said people should stay calm and rely on experts instead of her visions.

Meanwhile, Ayataka Ebita, director of the earthquake and tsunami observation division at Japan’s Meteorological Agency, also responded to the rumours.

Japan sits on four major tectonic plates, making it one of the most seismically active places on Earth. Reuters/File Photo

He told AFP, “We are aware that such tales are circulating, but that is a hoax.”

He added, “With today’s science and technology, it is not possible to predict earthquakes.”

The Japan Meteorological Agency also issued a statement online saying: “Any such predictions should be considered unreliable.”

How predictions have led to dip in tourism

The rumour has had an impact on tourism, especially among East Asian visitors.

Bloomberg Intelligence reported that bookings from Hong Kong have fallen by 50 per cent compared to 2024, and for the period from late June to early July, the drop is as steep as 83 per cent.

While Japan hit a record in April with 3.9 million tourists, the number of visitors in May dropped.

Arrivals from Hong Kong fell by 11 per cent year-on-year, according to the most recent data.

Steve Huen from Hong Kong-based EGL Tours blamed the fall in numbers on viral social media posts. These posts refer to a manga that mentions a dream about a massive earthquake and tsunami hitting Japan and nearby countries in July 2025.

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Japan’s megaquake warning that could kill 300,000

Back in April this year, a report by the Japanese government warned of the serious consequences if a major earthquake were to strike the Nankai Trough, an area off Japan’s Pacific coast.

The report estimated losses of around $1.81 trillion and suggested up to 300,000 people could lose their lives if the long-feared quake were to occur.

A damaged road after an earthquake, in Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. Reuters/File Photo

Japan is one of the most earthquake-prone countries in the world. Experts believe there is an 80 per cent chance of a magnitude 8 to 9 earthquake hitting the Nankai Trough.

The Nankai Trough is an undersea trench about 800 kilometres long, stretching from Hyuganada near Kyushu to Suruga Bay in central Japan.

🧵 Japan’s next major Disaster, a Thread

As we remember the 2011 megaquake, we must stay vigilant and prepared for the next major disaster that could strike Japan.

Nankai megathrust earthquakes are massive quakes that occur along the Nankai Trough, where the Philippine Sea… pic.twitter.com/DPbUjRHcIV — 由仁アリン Arin Yuni (@Arin_Yumi) March 11, 2025

For years, Japan has warned of a 70 to 80 per cent chance of a massive earthquake striking this region within the next three decades.

The country has seen devastating disasters before, including the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami, followed by a nuclear crisis. That 9.0-magnitude quake led to the worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl.

Japan sits on four major tectonic plates, making it one of the most seismically active places on Earth.

With inputs from agencies

Japan has seen record numbers of visitors this year.

But viral rumours of impending disaster stemming from a comic book prediction have reportedly taken the sheen off the tourism boom, with some airlines cancelling flights.

April saw an all-time monthly high of 3.9 million tourists but that dipped in May.

Arrivals from Hong Kong — the superstitious Chinese-controlled city where the rumours have circulated widely — were down 11 per cent year-on-year, according to the latest data.

A manga that sees the future?

Some believe the manga (Japanese comic book) The Future I Saw, predicted the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan’s north-eastern coast killing thousands and triggering a nuclear disaster.

The cover of the first edition published in 1999 included the words “a great disaster will happen in March 2011”.

The quake and tsunami engulfed towns and cities on Japan’s north-eastern coast in 2011. (Reuters/Kyodo)

The manga’s reprint in 2021 revived the debate, and some have interpreted the latest edition as predicting a catastrophic event would occur specifically on July 5, 2025.

Ryo Tatsuki, the artist behind the manga has tried to dampen the speculation, saying in a statement issued by her publisher that she was “not a prophet”.

Rumours started on social media

Akira Hasegawa, the deputy manager of Village Vanguard Bookshop in Tokyo, says that the manga went viral online.

“A lot of buyers [of The Future I Saw], the customers who visit our shop, are young people, so of course as July approached, the information about it spread on social media, mainly on TikTok,” he said.

The Future I Saw manga (Japanese comic) depicts the dreams of author Ryo Tatsuki. (ABC News: Neryssa Azlan)

An American tourist in Japan told Reuters that he had heard the rumours and second-guessed travelling to Japan in July.

“I first heard about it [the rumours] from my wife, and then I watched some YouTube videos and did some research,” said US tourist Joey Peng.

“She was trying to talk me out of coming to Japan, like, as we talked about earlier, right now is the best time for me to travel for my job.”

‘Significant impact’ on tourism

Steve Huen, of Hong Kong-based travel agency EGL Tours, said the rumours had had a “significant impact” and his firm had seen its Japan-related business halve.

Discounts and the introduction of earthquake insurance had “prevented Japan-bound travel from dropping to zero”, he added.

A sales banner at the bookstore Village Vanguard in Japan that says: “Whether you believe it or not is up to you” displayed next to the comic book The Future I Saw. (Reuters: Issei Kato)

Hong Kong resident Branden Choi, 28, said he was a frequent traveller to Japan but was hesitant to visit the country during July and August due to the manga prediction.

“If possible, I might delay my trip and go after September,” he said.

Earthquake prediction ‘impossible’

Situated within the Pacific Ocean’s “Ring of Fire”, Japan is one of the most earthquake-prone countries in the world.

In recent days there have been more than 900 earthquakes, most of them small tremors, on islands off the southern tip of Kyushu.

But Robert Geller, a professor at the University of Tokyo who has studied seismology since 1971, said even scientifically-based earthquake prediction was “impossible”.

“None of the predictions I’ve experienced in my scientific career have come close at all,” he said.

Nevertheless, low-cost carrier Greater Bay Airlines became the latest Hong Kong airline on Wednesday to cancel flights to Japan due to low demand.

They told Reuters that it would indefinitely suspend its service to Tokushima in western Japan from September.

ABC/wires

Manga Doomsday Prediction Causes Decline in Tourism to Japan Amid Rumours of Disaster? Here’s More To Know

Japan’s tourism industry, which had been experiencing a boom in recent months, has been shaken by viral rumours about an impending disaster, linked to a manga book published more than two decades ago. These rumours have resulted in a noticeable drop in tourists, especially from Hong Kong, where speculation about a catastrophic event in Japan this July has taken hold. The rumours, tied to a fictional account in a manga titled The Future I Saw, have caused enough concern that some airlines have even cancelled flights due to plummeting demand.

Japan had seen record-breaking visitor numbers this year, with April 2025 setting an all-time high of 3.9 million tourists. However, in May, the influx of visitors began to slow, with arrivals from Hong Kong dropping by 11% year-on-year, according to the latest government data. The viral rumours have been largely credited with the decline, as many potential tourists from Hong Kong are now hesitating to visit Japan this summer.

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The Manga’s Predicted Disaster and Its Impact

The controversy revolves around a manga, The Future I Saw, authored by Ryo Tatsuki, which contains a prediction of a devastating earthquake and tsunami hitting Japan and surrounding countries. First published in 1999 and re-released in 2021, the manga has gained attention due to its uncanny timing. The latest edition warns of a disaster happening in July 2025, specifically targeting July 5, though Tatsuki herself has denied that the manga predicts any particular date or catastrophic event.

In the manga, Tatsuki’s character experiences a vivid dream about an impending earthquake and tsunami. When the first edition of the manga was published, in 1999, it coincidentally aligned with the real-life 2011 disaster in Japan, which included a massive earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear crisis. This has led some readers to believe that the manga has some prophetic power, despite Tatsuki’s assertion that she is “not a prophet.”

The social media frenzy surrounding the manga’s prediction has contributed to widespread unease, particularly in Hong Kong, where the book’s re-release triggered a surge in discussions. Travel agents and airline companies are now feeling the effects of the fear-induced decline in travel bookings.

Hong Kong’s Tourism Slowdown

Steve Huen, a travel agency director from Hong Kong-based EGL Tours, explained that the rumours have had a significant impact on his business. “Our Japan-related bookings have been halved, and while we’ve introduced discounts and earthquake insurance for customers, it hasn’t been enough to prevent the decline in travel,” said Huen. The rumours have spread quickly across social media platforms, amplifying fears and causing potential tourists to reconsider their travel plans.

In particular, Hong Kong’s low-cost carrier, Greater Bay Airlines, became the latest to respond to the downturn in demand, cancelling its flights to Japan and suspending services to Tokushima, a city in western Japan, from September. The cancellation is a direct response to the sudden drop in passenger numbers, which have been blamed on the ongoing speculation regarding the manga’s prediction.

A Broader Concern: Is the Disaster Prediction Real?

The timing of the manga’s prediction of a natural disaster in July has led some to believe it is a forewarning of something impending. However, experts, including Robert Geller, a seismology professor at the University of Tokyo, have dismissed the idea of accurately predicting earthquakes. Geller, who has studied seismic activity since 1971, stated that “even scientifically-based earthquake prediction is impossible,” emphasizing that no prediction has come close to being accurate in his long career.

Japan, located in the Pacific Ocean’s ‘Ring of Fire,’ is one of the most earthquake-prone regions in the world. The country has experienced thousands of earthquakes, most of them minor, but fears about major events continue to stir anxiety, especially when sensationalized through media channels. In recent days, there have been over 900 earthquakes near Kyushu, Japan’s southernmost island, though most of these have been minor tremors.

Despite the scientific evidence debunking such predictions, the social media buzz continues to fuel anxiety. As tourists reconsider their travel plans, businesses in Japan’s tourism industry are feeling the effects. Even individuals who were once frequent visitors to Japan are now opting to delay their trips. Hong Kong resident Branden Choi, 28, shared his hesitation to travel to Japan this summer. “I usually go to Japan frequently, but because of the manga prediction, I am thinking of postponing my trip until after September,” he said.

Dismissing the Rumours: Tatsuki’s Clarification

Ryo Tatsuki, the author of The Future I Saw, has attempted to quell the rumours by releasing a statement clarifying that she is not making any predictions about the future. In the statement, she distanced herself from the viral speculation, stressing that the manga is a work of fiction and not a prophetic document. Despite her efforts, the fear generated by the book’s content and the coincidental timing with Japan’s earthquake history has made it difficult to quell the rising panic.

Tatsuki’s clarification may not be enough to immediately dispel the fears surrounding the manga’s predictions, especially given the pervasive influence of social media in spreading rumours. However, experts and government officials continue to assure the public that there is no credible evidence linking the manga’s content to any actual future events.

The Road Ahead for Japan’s Tourism Industry

While Japan’s tourism sector has faced a temporary setback due to these rumours, the country remains one of the most popular travel destinations in the world. The Japanese government and tourism officials are working hard to reassure both local and international visitors that there is no cause for alarm. With additional promotional efforts and reassurance from experts, it’s hoped that tourism will bounce back and continue its record-breaking trajectory once the current fears subside.

Serena Peng, a visitor from Seattle, expressed how the rumours had affected her initial thoughts about traveling to Japan. “I wasn’t too worried initially, but I was a little concerned after seeing the social media posts,” she said, speaking outside Tokyo’s famous Senso-ji Temple. However, after arriving in Japan, she noted that the city felt calm and welcoming, and she was enjoying her trip despite the online speculation.

Ultimately, while the manga-inspired doomsday predictions have certainly caused a temporary decline in travel bookings, Japan’s tourism sector remains resilient. As with any viral rumour, time will likely see a return to normalcy, allowing Japan to continue its position as a must-visit destination for travelers worldwide.

Sources: Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), University of Tokyo, Department of Earth and Planetary Science, Hong Kong-based EGL Tours, Greater Bay Airlines Press Releases, Reuters News Agency, official statements from Ryo Tatsuki and her publisher

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