How a Japanese Manga’s Disaster Prophecy Scared Tourists Away in Summer 2025
In the summer of 2025, Japan’s thriving tourism industry faces an unexpected challenge: a Japanese manga’s chilling prediction of a massive earthquake and tsunami.
‘The Future I Saw’ (Watashi ga Mita Mirai) by Ryo Tatsuki has sparked widespread fear, particularly among East Asian travellers, leading to a significant drop in bookings.
We explore the manga’s prophecy, its impact on tourism, and why Japan remains a safe and appealing destination despite the rumours.
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The Manga That Shook Japan’s Tourism
Manga refers to Japanese comic books or graphic novels originating, characterized by their distinctive art style and storytelling techniques.
First published in 1999, ‘The Future I Saw’ gained fame for seemingly predicting the March 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami. This tragedy that claimed over 18,000 lives and triggered the Fukushima nuclear disaster.
The manga’s cover explicitly warned of a “massive disaster in March 2011,” earning author Ryo Tatsuki a cult following.
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The 2021 “Complete Edition” reignited attention with a new prophecy: a catastrophic earthquake and tsunami on July 5, 2025.
The manga describes a “crack in the seabed between Japan and the Philippines,” causing waves “three times as tall” as those in 2011, with an epicentre in a region linking Japan, Indonesia, Taiwan, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
Tatsuki’s predictions, drawn from her dream journal, have sold over 960,000 copies, including translations in Chinese.
Her work’s eerie accuracy in 2011 has fuelled belief in her prophetic abilities, amplified by social media and influencers like Hong Kong feng shui master Qi Xian Yu, known as “Master Seven.” These voices have warned against traveling to Japan between June and August 2025, intensifying fears.
Japan Tourism Takes a Hit
The Japanese manga prophecy’s impact is evident. Travel agencies in Hong Kong, such as WWPKG and CLS Holiday, report a 50% drop in Japan bookings during the Easter holiday, with summer bookings down by over 80% compared to 2024.
Airlines like Greater Bay Airlines and Hong Kong Airlines have cut flights to cities like Sendai and Tokushima due to a 30% decline in demand.
Taiwanese travel influencer Brian In noted unusually low prices for July flights to Tokyo, Osaka, and Okinawa, attributing the trend to the “prophecy effect.”
The fear is most pronounced in East Asia, where superstition holds sway. South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, and Vietnam have seen reduced bookings, according to Bloomberg Intelligence and ForwardKeys data.
Social media has amplified the panic, with over 1,400 YouTube videos in multiple languages garnering 100 million views. Some exaggerate the manga’s claims, adding scenarios like volcanic eruptions or meteor strikes.
Despite this, Japan’s tourism remains robust overall. In Q1 2025, 10.5 million visitors arrived, including 2.36 million from mainland China (up 78% from 2024) and 343,000 from the U.S. in March alone.
Many travellers dismiss the prophecy, citing Japan’s advanced disaster preparedness.
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Official and Scientific Reassurances
Seismologists, including Kimiro Meguro from Tokyo University, stress that predicting an earthquake’s exact date and location is impossible with current science.
Japan, situated on the Pacific Ring of Fire, experiences frequent tremors but has world-class disaster management systems. The government routinely issues preparedness advisories, such as a March 31, 2025, report on the Nankai Trough’s potential for a magnitude 9 earthquake.
While this report fuelled fears, especially after a Chinese embassy advisory on April 14, 2025, officials like Miyagi Governor Yoshihiro Murai urge tourists to ignore rumours.
Tatsuki herself has called for calm. In an interview with the Mainichi Shimbun, she welcomed increased disaster awareness but cautioned against panic, urging reliance on expert advice.
Japan’s Cabinet Office’s Disaster Prevention Division echoed this social media. It stated that precise predictions are unfeasible and emphasizing ongoing preparedness.
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Conclusion
The “prophecy effect” highlights how social media can amplify rumours, but it also creates opportunities. Reduced demand has led to cheaper flights and promotional packages, including refunds for trips affected by a magnitude 5+ earthquake.
Japan’s tourism industry, expecting to surpass 36.8 million visitors in 2025, remains vibrant, with iconic destinations like Tokyo, Kyoto, and Hokkaido offering rich cultural experiences.
Travelers should focus on facts: Japan’s infrastructure is built to withstand natural disasters, and its early warning systems are unmatched.
The Japanese manga’s influence, while significant in superstitious communities, lacks scientific grounding. For those undeterred, summer 2025 could be an ideal time to explore Japan at lower costs.
Ryo Tatsuki’s ‘The Future I Saw’ has cast a shadow over Japan’s summer tourism, particularly in East Asia, where cancellations reflect deep-rooted superstitions.
Yet, Japan’s resilience, both in its people and infrastructure, shines through.
As officials and experts debunk the prophecy, savvy travellers can seize the chance to visit a country renowned for its beauty, culture, and preparedness.
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