Holiday discussions to Japan from important Asian markets plunged before the busy summer season. The cause: rumors of an impending earthquake prophesied in a Manga graphic novel. Social media and viral posts have troubled travelers and the attention of mango artist Ryo Tatsuki’s prediction of a major earthquake that would abound Japan with Tsunami waves. Tatsuki, which some claim that the earthquake predicted in 2011 in 2011, gave July 2025 as the date of the imminent event in a graphic novel that was first published in 1999. The Manga was re -published in 2021 with additional content and the Quake mirror recently gained new life on social media, with YouTube videos and Facebook posts that attract people to Japan, attract millions of views. Although scientists say that the exact timing of earthquakes cannot be predicted, airline discussions from Taiwan, South Korea and Hong Kong have dropped since April -with discussions of the latter with an average of 50% versus a year ago, according to a Bloomberg intelligence analysis of progress data. Weekly arrival bookings for the end of June to early July from the Asian financial center are also by as much as 83%. Greater Bay Airlines and Hong Kong Airlines both scaled a few flights to Japan this month, as officials requested the general public not to give the rumors to stock. Yoshihiro Murai, the Governor of Miyagi Prefecture, said last month that rumors began to affect tourism and asked people not to take the speculation seriously. The website of Japan’s meteorological agency reminded people that current science cannot predict tremors with any accuracy. Japan’s location in the so-called fire ring, a region of increased tectonic activity surrounding the Pacific, makes it one of the world’s most earthquake countries. Japan’s last major earthquake was in 2011, causing a devastating tsunami and nuclear disaster in Fukushima. Nevertheless, general tourism to Japan remains alive. In April, Japan recorded a record -breaking 3.9 million foreign visitors, attracted by the cheap yen. “The earthquake speculations certainly have a negative impact on Japan tourism and it will temporarily delay the surge,” says Eric Zhu, Bloomberg Intelligence’s analyst for aviation and defense. “Travelers take a risk-deterioration approach to the abundance of other short-distance options in the region.” Zhu expects more airlines to experience pain over the next few months based on current discussion patterns and expected flight loads. Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. may be especially at risk due to the high exposure to the Japanese tourism market. The group, which includes Hong Kong Express, is planning to devote almost a fifth of its scheduled seats to Japan through the fall, making it the largest international market for airlines, Zhu said in a note. Tatsuki’s work – the future I saw – is based on a dream in which a tsunami overwhelms the Japanese archipelago and affects Hong Kong, Taiwan and the Philippines. The rumors were also fueled by a prominent Hong Kong Feng Shui master who followed predictions for a great online and requested holiday seekers to avoid Japan. Others seized a February report by a Japanese earthquake task force monitored long seismic activity along the Nankai trough, and which increased the risk of a mega earthquake that could cause 100 feet of tsunamis within the next 30 years, to about 80%. Tatsuki, who has now retired and still living in Japan, said the high interest reflects the growing awareness of disaster readiness. “I want to take precautions myself, such as stock supplies in preparation for disasters and confirm the evacuation routes when she goes out,” she told Bloomberg in a statement. “I intend to stay alert daily as we approach July 2025.” © 2025 Bloomberg MP This article was generated from an automatic news agency feed without edits to text.
Travelers avoid trips to Japan over the prediction of viral comics
