Manga's 2025 Japan Disaster Prediction Fuels Holiday Cancellations

A recent surge of panic surrounds Ryo Tatsuki's manga “The Future I Saw,” which predicts a significant natural disaster in Japan for July 2025. The revelation of this prediction, coupled with a resurgence of interest in Tatsuki's earlier works, has led some travelers to reconsider their plans to visit Japan. This has gained traction on social media and even influenced tourism, with Hong Kong airlines reducing flights due to declining demand spurred by the prediction. The situation has been complicated by a new horror film inspired by the manga, leading to misunderstandings about the prediction's specifics. Despite the stir, experts urge people to base their decisions on scientific insights rather than unverified claims.

The panic stems from the manga's prediction of a massive disaster occurring in July 2025, similar to the 2011 earthquake, which resonates deeply in a country often affected by natural calamities. This has led to misinformation spreading on social media, causing some potential travelers to cancel their plans out of fear.

Ryo Tatsuki's “The Future I Saw” first emerged in 1999, gaining notoriety for its claims that hit close to real events such as the 2011 Tohoku earthquake. The manga's predictions are intertwined with Japan's cultural sensitivity to natural disasters, influenced by prior tragic events. The new film “July 5 2025, 4:18 AM,” which draws inspiration from these themes, is set to heighten awareness and possibly anxiety surrounding the topic, further blurring the line between entertainment and real-world implications.