A Japanese comic book by artist Ryo Tatsuki published in 1999 is causing a wave of tourism confusion in many Asian countries, after the author "prophesized" that a terrible earthquake with a typhoon would hit Japan in July.
The work, titled The Future I saw, by artist manga Ryo Tatsuki, was fully published in 2021, and quickly returned to the spotlight after spreading the image of a "boiling sea south of Japan on July 5, 2025" due to a giant crack under the seabed between Japan and the Philippines. According to the story, a Tsunami three times higher than the 2011 disaster will hit the mainland - a "terrifying" prospect.
Although not scientifically supported, this " tien tri" has caused many tourists in China, Hong Kong (China), Thailand... to cancel their tours to Japan in the summer. Some travel agencies recorded tour bookings down 50-80% during the holiday season and continued to decline in July.
According to publishers, more than 900,000 books have been sold, including Chinese versions. Painter Ryo Tatsuki once "shocked" when he issued a warning about a major disaster in March 2011 - coinciding with the time of the earthquake and Tsunami that killed more than 18,000 people.
This phenomenon was quickly replenished by famous "fengxi teachers" in Hong Kong (China) and Japan. Teacher No. 7 - an influential social media figure in the Fengshi community - has publicly advised followers not to travel to Japan in July.
However, scientists confirm that it is impossible to accurately predict the time and location of the earthquake. The Japan cabinet's Disaster Prevention Agency emphasized: "With current scientific knowledge, it is impossible to predict earthquakes by determining the day, time and location. People should be ready to respond at all times".
Local governments in areas that have been hit by earthquakes, such as Miyagi province, have spoken out against the wave of superstition. When baseless rumors spread on social media affect tourism, it is a serious problem, Governor Yoshihiro Murai said at a press conference.
For his part, artist Tatsuki, now 70 years old, also called on the public to "not waver too much about dreams" and to act according to recommendations from experts.
Despite the rumors' significant impact on tourism sentiment, Japan will still welcome more than 3.49 million international visitors in March 2025, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO).
