Why Japan Won’t Stop Shaking: Ring of Fire, Manga Predictions, and What It All Means…

The Ground Won’t Stay Still

Japan is trembling again. Since June 21, the Tokara Islands in southern Kagoshima Prefecture have endured over 1,000 earthquakes, including a powerful magnitude 5.5 quake on July 3 at Akusekijima and another 5.5‑magnitude event on July 2. On July 4–5, moderate quakes (4.6–5.4 M) rattled areas near Naze, Fukushima, and the Ryukyu Islands . Evacuations, emergency alerts, and shaken nerves are becoming routine.

So, what’s happening beneath the surface? Let’s unpack the Pacific’s fiery underbelly, what’s shaking—and who’s predicting what.

Part 1: Welcome to the Ring of Fire

The “Ring of Fire” is a horseshoe-shaped belt of tectonic plate boundaries, volcanoes, and fault lines circling the Pacific. It’s home to 90% of the world’s earthquakes, including Japan’s seismic activity .

Japan lies where four tectonic plates meet—Pacific, Philippine Sea, Eurasian (Okhotsk), and Amurian. These slowly moving giants collide, grind, and subduct beneath one another. When pressure releases suddenly, the earth trembles. It’s why Japan experiences roughly 1,500 felt earthquakes a year (~4 per day) .

Part 2: What Just Happened in Japan?

Here’s the seismic timeline:

• June 21–July 5: Over 1,000 quakes struck the Tokara Islands.
• July 3: A 5.5 M quake hit Akusekijima at 16:13 local time, depth ~20 km, with a Shindo 6‑ intensity—strong enough to knock people over.
• July 4–5: Quakes (4.6–5.4 M) rattled regions near Naze, Fukushima, and Ryukyu.
• July 5 morning: Another 4.6 M quake occurred near Tokara—no tsunami alert, but nerves remain tense.

Residents of Akusekijima (pop. ~90) were evacuated on July 4, and emergency kits flew off shelves.

A 5.5-magnitude quake struck near #Japan‘s #Tokara Islands on July 3. No tsunami risk reported. Earlier, a volcano on Mount Shinmoedake erupted, spewing ash 5,000m high. Over 1,000 quakes have rattled the region since June 21. #earthquake pic.twitter.com/9Bhk1IWSmm

— Shanghai Daily (@shanghaidaily) July 4, 2025

Part 3: What’s a Seismic Swarm?

Unlike a single quake with aftershocks, a seismic swarm is many quakes clustered over time without one mainshock. Tokara’s swarm is intense and prolonged—akin to past swarms in 2000 (Izu Islands) and September 2023. These swarms can last weeks to months—not necessarily heading toward a catastrophic quake—but psychologically taxing nonetheless.

Part 4: And Then Came the Manga…

Enter “The Future I Saw” by Ryo Tatsuki, first published July 1, 1999, and reprinted in 2021 with added dream records. Its original cover warned: “Great disaster, year 2011, month 3.” This was tied to the March 2011 Tōhoku quake and tsunami.

The complete edition added a prophetic message: “The real disaster will come in July 2025.” It depicts an undersea fault opening between Japan and the Philippines, unleashing a tsunami three times higher than in 2011. Social media ignited, especially in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Thailand—some airlines even cut flights due to cancellations and low demand.

Tatsuki, now in her 70s, clarified she isn’t a prophet—just someone who captured vivid dreams. Still, dubbed the “new Baba Vanga,” her imagery of “boiling seas” and massive tsunamis has spawned wide speculation.

Is it real or coincidence?

Seismologists stress: earthquake prediction is impossible—date, location, magnitude—it can’t be done scientifically. Japanese authorities and travel agencies emphasize preparedness over panic. Still, the timing and imagery are… unsettling.

Part 5: Why Is Japan So Quake-Prone?

Japan’s earthquake risk stems from:

1. Converging plates: Four major plates intersect beneath Japan.
2. Subduction zones: One plate slides under another, rapidly building stress—released as earthquakes or tsunamis.
3. Volcanoes: Over 100 active volcanoes in Japan, often tied to seismic activity.

This geological setup makes Japan one of the world’s most seismically active regions—averaging 1,500 felt quakes annually .

Part 6: How Japan Stays Ready

Despite being ground zero for quakes, Japan has developed world-class resilience:

• Earthquake-resistant buildings: Tokyo skyscrapers sway, but rarely collapse.
• Early-warning apps: Yurekuru Call and others offer alerts seconds before tremors.
• Citizen drills: Schools and communities regularly practice “Drop, Cover, and Hold On.”
• Tsunami infrastructure: Seawalls, sirens, evacuation zones are standard.

This preparation helped mitigate disasters like 2011’s Tōhoku quake and Tsunami.

Part 7: What Experts Are Saying Now

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) and researchers from the University of Tokyo have stated:

• Current seismic activity is not necessarily a precursor to a megaquake.
• Similar swarm-patterns occurred in 2000 and 2023, with no major quake following .
• No tsunami warnings have been issued.
• The Shindo 6‑ event on Akusekijima was the strongest yet in the swarm.
• While experts remain cautious, the Nankai Trough and Sagami Fault are monitored closely.

Part 8: Can Earthquakes Be Predicted?

The hard truth: No.

Despite AI, deep-sea sensors, or dream journals, the exact prediction of an earthquake remains impossible. We can track patterns and probabilities (e.g., an 80% chance of an Nankai megaquake within 30 years), but not timing.

That’s why preparation—not prediction—is the only real protection.

Part 9: What Should You Do If You’re in Japan?

Stay safe with these simple actions:

1. Know the numbers: 119 for ambulance/fire, 110 for police.
2. Install alert apps: Yurekuru Call, JMA notifications (English available).
3. Tsunami awareness: After a coastal quake, head uphill—not wait for warnings.
4. Pack emergency kits: Light, water, radio, meds, first-aid, and copies of documents.
5. Trust official channels: JMA is the most reliable source—avoid rumor-driven panic.

Final Thought: A Shake-Up Worth Remembering

This July, Japan has once more shaken our perception of certainty—from actual quakes to eerie manga prophecies. Yet, despite the tremors inside and outside, there is resilience:

• A nation prepared rebuilding stronger,
• A culture cautious of panic, yet open to mystery,
• And a people grounded—literally and figuratively.

Will Ryo Tatsuki’s July 2025 vision come true? Nobody knows. But Japan will be ready, just as it always has.