Japan is shaking—literally and emotionally. In the past two weeks, over 1,000 tremors have hit the Kagoshima region near Kyushu, the southernmost of its main islands. The latest was a 5.4-magnitude quake on Saturday, and the fear is growing. But what’s making people more nervous than the actual quakes? A manga.
Yes, a comic book.
The Comic Book That Shook Confidence
A Japanese manga titled The Future I Saw, first published in 1999, is suddenly back in the spotlight. The artist, Ryo Tatsuki, supposedly predicted several past disasters, and in one panel, a major quake was “seen” in July 2025.
Now that July is here—and tremors are happening—panic has spread like wildfire.
Hong Kong tourists, where the rumor took off, are canceling trips. Japan saw an 11% drop in arrivals from Hong Kong this May. Some travelers fear a doomsday event, just because of a cartoon.
Science vs. Superstition
Japan’s Meteorological Agency (JMA) is urging people to stay calm and stick to science.
“With our current knowledge, we can’t predict the exact time or size of an earthquake,” said Ayataka Ebita, head of JMA’s quake division. “We ask that people base their understanding on facts, not rumors.”
The government has evacuated residents from remote islands near recent epicentres as a safety measure, but officials insist there’s no scientific evidence of a massive quake coming soon.
For full context, Japan experiences about 20% of the world’s earthquakes with a magnitude 6 or more. It’s one of the most earthquake-prone countries on Earth. Strong tremors are nothing new here.
The Real Risk: Panic
The real danger now isn’t the earth moving—it’s misinformation.
Ryo Tatsuki, the manga artist behind the current rumor storm, released a statement through her publisher. She said, “I am not a prophet.”
But panic doesn’t care about facts. It travels faster than tremors.
Yes, Japan is on alert for more quakes. That’s normal for a country sitting on the Pacific Ring of Fire. What’s not normal is letting a comic book dictate our fear.
This is a moment to trust science, respect warnings, and ignore noise. Earthquakes are real. Manga predictions? Not so much.
If you’re traveling to Japan—be aware, but don’t be afraid. Fear shouldn’t write our future. People should.
