Japan has seen record numbers of visitors this year. But viral rumours of impending disaster stemming from a comic book prediction have reportedly impacted the tourism boom, with some airlines cancelling flights.

In short:

Japan has seen a decline in tourists, especially from China, with some citing a disaster prediction in a manga (Japanese comic book) that was first published in 1999.

The manga The Future I Saw details the dreams of the author, including one that some believe predicted Japan’s tsunami in 2011.

What’s next?

The manga’s reprint in 2021 triggered rumours a catastrophic event would occur on July 5, 2025, which has sparked concerns from some superstitious tourists about travelling to Japan.

  • pepperonisalami@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    9·
    16 hours ago

    I live in Taiwan, so I’m pretty close to Japan. Plane ticket prices to Japan are dropping, and there are rumors also of people leaving (temporarily?) from Japan for this occasion. So yeah, some people take it seriously 😅