Japan Tourism Dips Amid Manga ‘Prophecy’ of 2025 Disaster
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Japan continues to attract tourists worldwide, but visitor numbers from Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Korea are declining. Some European travelers are also reconsidering their plans.The Financial Times reports an 11% drop in hong Kong tourists alone in May. Overall bookings from Asia have fallen by as much as 83%.Hong Kong Airlines has even canceled or reduced flights to Japan. This decline in Japan tourism is linked to a manga.
The manga, by Japanese author Ryo Tatsuki, is titled “Watashi ga Mita Mirai” (“The Future I Saw”).
The Manga Prophecy and Its Eerie Precedent
The manga is a horror-mystery anthology published in 2021. Tatsuki recounts her premonitory dreams and predicts a catastrophe around July 5, 2025. The disaster’s nature is undefined, possibly a major earthquake or tsunami.This prediction is causing concern among potential tourists.
A previous prediction fuels the panic. Tatsuki’s earlier manga series, published in 1999, seemingly foreshadowed the 2011 Tohoku earthquake. The magnitude 9.0 quake triggered a tsunami and the Fukushima nuclear disaster. Tatsuki, who had retired from publishing, updated the manga after 22 years. She issued a new warning: “The real disaster will strike in July 2025.”
Dreams, Not Prophecies
Tatsuki denies possessing prophetic powers. She emphasizes that her manga depicts dreams, not prophecies. Japanese authorities reiterate that there is no scientific method for predicting earthquakes. Ryoichi Nomura, director-general of the Japan Meteorological Agency, called such predictions “a hoax.”
“With our current scientific knowledge, it is impractical to predict the date, time, location, and exact magnitude of an earthquake,” he told the Financial Times. “There is absolutely no need to worry about it.”
Understanding Earthquake Prediction in Japan
Japan is located in a seismically active zone, making it prone to earthquakes. The country has invested heavily in earthquake monitoring and early warning systems. Though, predicting the exact timing and magnitude of earthquakes remains a critically important scientific challenge. While some believe in anecdotal evidence or patterns, the scientific community largely agrees that reliable earthquake prediction is not yet possible.
The cultural impact of disaster predictions, like those in Tatsuki’s manga, highlights the public’s anxiety surrounding natural disasters. These anxieties can influence travel decisions and economic activity, even in the absence of scientific validation.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Japan Disaster Prediction
- Why is Japan tourism declining?
- Concerns over a manga predicting a major disaster in July 2025 are contributing to a decline in tourism, particularly from Asian countries.
- What is the ‘Watashi ga Mita Mirai’ manga about?
- The manga, ‘Watashi ga Mita Mirai’ (‘The Future I Saw’), by Ryo tatsuki, is a collection of dream-based predictions, including one about a potential catastrophe in 2025.
- Did Ryo Tatsuki predict the Fukushima disaster?
- Tatsuki’s earlier manga series,published in 1999,contained a prediction that some interpret as foreshadowing the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and Fukushima nuclear disaster.
- Is there scientific evidence to support the manga’s predictions?
- Japanese authorities and seismologists emphasize that there is no scientifically reliable method for predicting earthquakes or other natural disasters with specific dates.
- What is the official response to the 2025 disaster prediction?
- Officials are dismissing the prediction as unfounded, stressing the impossibility of accurately forecasting earthquakes with current scientific knowledge.
- how much does the out-of-print manga cost?
- Copies of the out-of-print manga are reportedly selling for upwards of 100,000 yen (approximately $600 USD) on the secondhand market.
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