Tokyo, Japan – July 2, 2025: A wave of anxiety is sweeping across Japan and East Asia — not from the ocean, but from the pages of a manga. Social media platforms are buzzing with alarming claims of an imminent tsunami hitting Japan on July 5, 2025, a prediction originating from the 2021 manga “The Future I Saw” by Japanese artist Ryo Tatsuki. Dubbed the “New Baba Vanga” by online communities, Tatsuki’s work has gone viral for its eerie forecast of a devastating undersea crack between Japan and the Philippines, allegedly leading to a tsunami three times more powerful than the 2011 disaster.
With millions of views across platforms like X, TikTok, and YouTube, the panic is no longer limited to fiction fans — it’s now affecting tourism, economics, and public discourse.
A Prophecy Goes Viral
The sudden surge in interest stems from a panel in Tatsuki’s manga that describes a vivid dream: a cataclysmic event on July 5, unleashing destruction across the region. That date is now just days away, and fears are spreading — especially across Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, South Korea, and Thailand, where many social media users are sharing the prediction as though it were a warning.
The situation intensified when a swarm of 330 minor earthquakes was recently recorded near Japan’s Tokara Islands, alongside a volcanic eruption at Mount Shinmoe in Kyushu — events that, while scientifically unconnected to any manga, eerily align with the timeline described in The Future I Saw.
The Public Reaction
A Sky Perfect JSAT survey conducted in June revealed that nearly half of Japanese respondents (49.4%) were aware of the manga’s earthquake prophecy. The awareness was highest among teenage girls (61.4%) and women in their fifties (57.8%), while over 50% of teenage and twenty-something men also reported knowing about it.
Despite the lack of scientific backing, the impact is tangible. Airlines such as Greater Bay Airlines have cut back on Japan-bound flights. Tourists are cancelling bookings. In Tottori Prefecture, which relies heavily on foreign visitors, travel reservations from Hong Kong have plunged by nearly 50%.
Economists warn of a potential ¥560 billion ($3.9 billion) loss to Japan’s tourism industry if the panic persists through July. According to Takahide Kiuchi of Nomura Research Institute, this situation demonstrates how online misinformation can produce real-world economic harm.
What the Experts and Government Are Saying
Japan’s scientific and government bodies are calling for calm — and urging the public to ignore unfounded predictions.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) released a public statement:
“Any such predictions should be considered unreliable. Earthquake prediction remains outside the scope of modern science.”
Professor Naoya Sekiya, a disaster communication expert at the University of Tokyo, emphasized that preparedness — not panic — is key:
“We cannot predict earthquakes. Rather than focus on unscientific rumours, people should ensure they are ready for disasters at any time.”
Miyagi Prefecture Governor Yoshihiro Murai voiced concern over the damaging influence of online speculation:
“It’s a serious problem when baseless internet rumours hurt our tourism sector. Verified information from official sources should be trusted, not fictional forecasts.”
What Does the Manga Really Say?
In her 2021 work, Tatsuki details a dream in which a crack opens beneath the sea between Japan and the Philippines, triggering a massive tsunami. The dream’s date: July 5, 2025. The manga previously gained fame for seemingly foreshadowing the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, leading fans to treat her work with unusual seriousness.
But even Tatsuki herself has urged restraint. In a recent interview, the manga artist said:
“Please don’t take my dreams or predictions too literally. I always ask people to listen to scientists, not fiction. Dreams are personal — not prophecies.”
The Bigger Picture: Misinformation vs Preparedness
This episode is a reminder of the powerful — and sometimes dangerous — reach of viral content in the digital age. A single panel from a comic book has managed to spark travel disruptions, economic losses, and widespread fear across multiple nations.
But while the panic may be misplaced, the importance of disaster awareness remains real. Earthquakes and tsunamis are part of life in Japan, and preparedness plans, early warning systems, and public education remain essential tools.
As July 5 draws near, all eyes are on Japan — not because of a forecast from scientists, but because of a fictional dream in a manga that blurred the lines between art and reality. While experts insist there’s no reason to panic, the psychological and financial tremors are already being felt.
