Japanese manga warns of threatening natural events - tourists cancel trips

Japanese manga warns of threatening natural events - tourists cancel trips

cnn - a Japanese comic warns of a "real catastrophe". A clairvoyant predicts mass destruction. A Feng Shui master advises people to avoid Japan.

Although this sounds like the action of a disaster film, a recent series of so -called earthquake -related “predictions” of the Japanese tourism industry has caused considerable concerns. These predictions, especially in East Asia, have led to more superstiet travelers cancel or postpone their vacation.

The challenge of the earthquake forecast

seismologists have long warned that it is almost impossible to predict exactly when an earthquake could take place. However, Japan has an impressive balance in surviving strong quake, and the possibility of a large earthquake is something with which the population lives every day.

But the fear of a "great quake", reinforced by clairvoyants and social media, forces some travelers to rethink their plans. For many it is a comic book that is deterring them.

a prophetic manga

The manga "The future I saw", published by manga artist Ryo Tatzuki in 1999, warned of a great disaster in March 2011-a date that coincided with the devastating earthquake in Japan's northern Tohoku region. In 2021 she published a "complete version" that claimed that the next big earthquake would arrive this July.

At the same time, Hellseher from Japan and Hong Kong, which are similar to unfounded panic and numerous travel cancellations led.

a decline in bookings

CN YUEN, Managing Director of the travel agency WWPKG in Hong Kong, reported that the bookings to Japan have dropped by half during the Easter holidays and will probably go back in the next two months. This speculation in particular has deterred travelers from the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong, which represent the two largest tourist groups for Japan. However, fear has also expanded to other markets such as Thailand and Vietnam, where social media overflow with contributions that warn of trips to Japan.

The premonitions

japan lies on the Pacific Feuerring , an area with intensive seismic and vulkan activities. The concerns about a "big quake" have increased after the Japanese government announced in January that the likelihood of a severe earthquake in southern Nankai trench was 80 % within 30 years.

The works of Tatsuki have a large followers in East Asia, and many of their fans believe that they can see future events in their dreams. In her manga she draws a cartoon version of herself in which she shares visions from her sleeping rooms, which often resemble great events.

The effects on tourism

The recent edition of "The Future I saw (full version)" warns that on July 5 of this year a tear will be created under the sea floor between Japan and the Philippines, which creates waves three times as high as with Tohoku-Erdbieben. Tatsuki was positive about the increased interest in her work, but asked not to be "excessively influenced by her dreams" and to act appropriately on the basis of expert opinions.

In social media, many predictions are now circulating that lead to disagreement about possible dangers. In a short report, the Japanese cabinet authority announced that modern technology was not yet able to precisely predict earthquakes. The governor of the seriously affected Prefecture Miyagi, Yoshihiro Murai, also spoke out against the effects of superstition on Japanese tourism and described this as a serious problem.

The popularity of Japan as a travel country

Despite all this worries, Japan remains an extremely popular travel destination. Samantha Tang from Hong Kong pushed her planned visit to Wakayama, a beach destination about 80 kilometers south of Osaka. "Everyone talks about an upcoming earthquake," says 34-year-old yoga teacher, who has been traveling to Japan at least once a year since the end of the pandemic.

However, many tourists have not changed their plans. According to the Japan National Tourism Organization, the number of visitors rose to a record of 10.5 million in the first three months from 2025. During this period, 2.36 million visitors traveled from the Chinese mainland to Japan, which corresponds to an increase of 78 % compared to the previous year.

Vic Shing from Hong Kong is one of the travelers who cannot be inhibited. Although he heard of “the Prophecy”, he confirms his adherence to his vacation in Japan this year. "Earthquake forecasts have never been exactly," he says. Even if one hits, Japan can handle disaster management well.