With continued growth in foreign interest in traveling to Japan, a widespread myth in 2025 shocked the world. A manga entitled "The Future I Saw" written by Ryo Tatsuki gained popularity again after it incorporated a prediction of a huge disaster purported to hit Japan on July 2025. Published in 1999, the manga was "successful" with a prediction of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, so many thought it was true.In its most recent issue released in 2021, the author wrote a scenario of a megathrust earthquake that could destroy Japan in mid-2025. From there, it began circulating as rumor, mostly on online forums and social media, and there was worry both in the country as well as among foreign visitors.
Impact on Japanese Tourism
These rumors have had a strong impact on the Japanese tourist industry. There are several reports that indicate Hong Kong, Taiwanese, and South Korean tourists canceled their trips to Japan. Indeed, several airlines, such as Hong Kong Airlines, reduced flights to tourist destinations like Kagoshima and Kumamoto.This decline in tourist business is significant. Some travel agencies experienced 50% fewer bookings than they did last year. Cancellations reached 80% on certain dates. This is obviously a crushing blow to the Japanese travel industry, which is still trying to bounce back from the pandemic and prepare for international events.
Clarification from Authorities and Experts
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) stoutly refuted those rumors. They stated that there is no way to predict when, where, and with what magnitude an earthquake will hit through any science or technology. Although Japan is among the most advanced countries in seismological study, precise predictions like those in manga are purely fictional.Seismologists also argue that induction of panic on such grounds is extremely dangerous. Not only does it undermine trust in official statistics, but it is also likely to undermine preparedness at the community level. Scientists place greater emphasis on mitigation measures, such as the building of earthquake-resistant buildings, evacuation training, and early warning systems, which have proved effective in saving lives.
Real Earthquake Activity: Tokara Islands
Ironically, the rumor followed a series of earthquakes near the Tokara Islands in Kagoshima Prefecture. In late June and early July 2025, small earthquakes totaling thousands occurred there. Others were very powerful, so powerful that some of them rose to a level of minus 6 on the Japan Shindo scale, which is categorized as noteworthy and can cause injury to buildings.But the specialists reiterated that the Tokara earthquake swarm is a normal natural geological phenomenon which often occurs at active subduction zones like Japan. There is no connection between this process and the prediction in the manga. The coincidence is only a correlation that was followed by rumor-spreading.
Between Myth and Reality
This indicates that today's society is still influenced by make-believe stories when combined with real occurrences. On the one hand, the fear is understandable because Japan is prone to strong earthquakes. On the other hand, spreading rumors without scientific proof aggravates the situation.For the visitor, distinguishing between official guidance from the authorities and speculation is essential. Japan itself has one of the world's most sophisticated earthquake warning systems. Within seconds of an earthquake having been detected, residents' cell phones can be alerted, trains will automatically stop running, and people are told to evacuate. This is far more reliable than "forecasts" in books.Speculation regarding a massive July 2025 Japanese earthquake that started in the manga The Future I Saw has created mass hysteria and even had real economic repercussions for the tourist sector. However, official authorities and seismologists have maintained that there is no scientific basis for such predictions. Seismic activity in the Tokara Islands does occur, but it is a normal natural phenomenon in seismically active areas, not evidence of prophecy.Ultimately, it is preferable for the public and visitors to be observant, stay tuned to official information, and not be lured by sensationalized baseless prophecies. As a country, Japan has displayed its resilience in coping with calamities with a good mitigating system. Rather than being freaked out by rumors, it is better to take lessons from Japan's preparedness against earthquake dangers, which are something that are part of the country's terrain.
