Manga Doomsday Prediction Causes Decline in Tourism to Japan Amid Rumours of Disaster? Here’s More To Know – Travel And Tour World

Japan’s tourism industry, which had been experiencing a boom in recent months, has been shaken by viral rumours about an impending disaster, linked to a manga book published more than two decades ago. These rumours have resulted in a noticeable drop in tourists, especially from Hong Kong, where speculation about a catastrophic event in Japan this July has taken hold. The rumours, tied to a fictional account in a manga titled The Future I Saw, have caused enough concern that some airlines have even cancelled flights due to plummeting demand.

Japan had seen record-breaking visitor numbers this year, with April 2025 setting an all-time high of 3.9 million tourists. However, in May, the influx of visitors began to slow, with arrivals from Hong Kong dropping by 11% year-on-year, according to the latest government data. The viral rumours have been largely credited with the decline, as many potential tourists from Hong Kong are now hesitating to visit Japan this summer.

The Manga’s Predicted Disaster and Its Impact

The controversy revolves around a manga, The Future I Saw, authored by Ryo Tatsuki, which contains a prediction of a devastating earthquake and tsunami hitting Japan and surrounding countries. First published in 1999 and re-released in 2021, the manga has gained attention due to its uncanny timing. The latest edition warns of a disaster happening in July 2025, specifically targeting July 5, though Tatsuki herself has denied that the manga predicts any particular date or catastrophic event.

In the manga, Tatsuki’s character experiences a vivid dream about an impending earthquake and tsunami. When the first edition of the manga was published, in 1999, it coincidentally aligned with the real-life 2011 disaster in Japan, which included a massive earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear crisis. This has led some readers to believe that the manga has some prophetic power, despite Tatsuki’s assertion that she is “not a prophet.”

The social media frenzy surrounding the manga’s prediction has contributed to widespread unease, particularly in Hong Kong, where the book’s re-release triggered a surge in discussions. Travel agents and airline companies are now feeling the effects of the fear-induced decline in travel bookings.

Hong Kong’s Tourism Slowdown

Steve Huen, a travel agency director from Hong Kong-based EGL Tours, explained that the rumours have had a significant impact on his business. “Our Japan-related bookings have been halved, and while we’ve introduced discounts and earthquake insurance for customers, it hasn’t been enough to prevent the decline in travel,” said Huen. The rumours have spread quickly across social media platforms, amplifying fears and causing potential tourists to reconsider their travel plans.

In particular, Hong Kong’s low-cost carrier, Greater Bay Airlines, became the latest to respond to the downturn in demand, cancelling its flights to Japan and suspending services to Tokushima, a city in western Japan, from September. The cancellation is a direct response to the sudden drop in passenger numbers, which have been blamed on the ongoing speculation regarding the manga’s prediction.

A Broader Concern: Is the Disaster Prediction Real?

The timing of the manga’s prediction of a natural disaster in July has led some to believe it is a forewarning of something impending. However, experts, including Robert Geller, a seismology professor at the University of Tokyo, have dismissed the idea of accurately predicting earthquakes. Geller, who has studied seismic activity since 1971, stated that “even scientifically-based earthquake prediction is impossible,” emphasizing that no prediction has come close to being accurate in his long career.

Japan, located in the Pacific Ocean’s ‘Ring of Fire,’ is one of the most earthquake-prone regions in the world. The country has experienced thousands of earthquakes, most of them minor, but fears about major events continue to stir anxiety, especially when sensationalized through media channels. In recent days, there have been over 900 earthquakes near Kyushu, Japan’s southernmost island, though most of these have been minor tremors.

Despite the scientific evidence debunking such predictions, the social media buzz continues to fuel anxiety. As tourists reconsider their travel plans, businesses in Japan’s tourism industry are feeling the effects. Even individuals who were once frequent visitors to Japan are now opting to delay their trips. Hong Kong resident Branden Choi, 28, shared his hesitation to travel to Japan this summer. “I usually go to Japan frequently, but because of the manga prediction, I am thinking of postponing my trip until after September,” he said.

Dismissing the Rumours: Tatsuki’s Clarification

Ryo Tatsuki, the author of The Future I Saw, has attempted to quell the rumours by releasing a statement clarifying that she is not making any predictions about the future. In the statement, she distanced herself from the viral speculation, stressing that the manga is a work of fiction and not a prophetic document. Despite her efforts, the fear generated by the book’s content and the coincidental timing with Japan’s earthquake history has made it difficult to quell the rising panic.

Tatsuki’s clarification may not be enough to immediately dispel the fears surrounding the manga’s predictions, especially given the pervasive influence of social media in spreading rumours. However, experts and government officials continue to assure the public that there is no credible evidence linking the manga’s content to any actual future events.

The Road Ahead for Japan’s Tourism Industry

While Japan’s tourism sector has faced a temporary setback due to these rumours, the country remains one of the most popular travel destinations in the world. The Japanese government and tourism officials are working hard to reassure both local and international visitors that there is no cause for alarm. With additional promotional efforts and reassurance from experts, it’s hoped that tourism will bounce back and continue its record-breaking trajectory once the current fears subside.

Serena Peng, a visitor from Seattle, expressed how the rumours had affected her initial thoughts about traveling to Japan. “I wasn’t too worried initially, but I was a little concerned after seeing the social media posts,” she said, speaking outside Tokyo’s famous Senso-ji Temple. However, after arriving in Japan, she noted that the city felt calm and welcoming, and she was enjoying her trip despite the online speculation.

Ultimately, while the manga-inspired doomsday predictions have certainly caused a temporary decline in travel bookings, Japan’s tourism sector remains resilient. As with any viral rumour, time will likely see a return to normalcy, allowing Japan to continue its position as a must-visit destination for travelers worldwide.

Sources: Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), University of Tokyo, Department of Earth and Planetary Science, Hong Kong-based EGL Tours, Greater Bay Airlines Press Releases, Reuters News Agency, official statements from Ryo Tatsuki and her publisher

«Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following us»