Japan adjusts holidays amid manga's 2025 disaster forecast

A previously obscure manga titled "The Future I Saw" (Watashi ga Mita Mirai) has suddenly gained global attention, with author Ryo Tatsuki's prediction of a catastrophic natural disaster hitting Japan in July 2025 sparking widespread discussion. This alarming forecast has reportedly influenced some travelers to reconsider visiting Japan this summer, creating a media frenzy across Japanese social networks. What's fueling belief in Tatsuki's prophecies? And how did an upcoming horror film become entangled in this growing panic?

Initially published in 1999, Tatsuki's manga presents herself as a character documenting visions from dream diaries she's maintained since 1985. The original cover famously depicted Tatsuki with one hand covering an eye, surrounded by postcards referencing various prophetic visions - including one marked "March 2011: A Great Disaster." Following the tragic Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami that struck Japan precisely in March 2011, Tatsuki's work was dramatically rediscovered, with out-of-print copies suddenly becoming collector's items fetching premium prices.

The 2021 rerelease titled "The Future I Saw: Complete Edition" added a new prophecy - forecasting an even larger natural disaster occurring in July 2025, potentially involving tsunamis triple the size of the 2011 catastrophe. Given Tatsuki's previous "accurate" prediction, this new warning rapidly spread across Japanese social platforms.

International media reports suggest Tatsuki's predictions may be impacting Japanese tourism, particularly affecting travelers from Hong Kong where translated versions are available. Notably, Hong Kong Airlines canceled weekly flights to Sendai (a city devastated in 2011), while Greater Bay Airlines reduced service to Sendai and Tokushima, citing decreased demand potentially influenced by disaster fears and economic concerns. Miyagi Governor Yoshihiro Murai publicly dismissed these disaster predictions as unscientific during an April press conference.

The renewed mainstream attention has propelled manga sales past 1 million copies while coinciding with promotional efforts for the upcoming horror film "July 5 2025, 4:18 AM" (premiering June 27). The movie incorporates Tatsuki's earthquake prophecy into its narrative, though some social media accounts incorrectly claimed the title references Tatsuki's predicted disaster date. Publisher Asuka Shinsha issued clarification that Tatsuki never specified exact dates.

While Tatsuki's predictions lack scientific basis, they resonate with legitimate seismic concerns. Experts estimate a 70-80% probability of a devastating Nankai Trough earthquake occurring within 30 years, potentially causing 300,000 casualties according to government projections. However, seismologists stress that precise earthquake prediction remains impossible, with Japan's Meteorological Agency officially labeling such claims as hoaxes.

On social media platform X, Japanese commentators have criticized the media hype, with one user noting: "Believing disaster prophecies from manga is absurd. The Nankai quake could strike anytime." Tatsuki herself has encouraged rational preparedness while urging the public not to overreact to her visions, advising people to follow expert guidance instead.