Ryo Tatsuki’s graphic novel has raised widespread concern among travellers. Avoiding the country or cancelling tickets, tourists truly believe Tatsuki’s quake prediction for July 2025 in Japan. Ryo is believed to have predicted the 2011 earthquake in a novel that was first published in 1999 called “The Future I Saw”. Re-published in 2021, the most recent version has led to an average loss of 50% of airline bookings from Taiwan, South Korea and Hong Kong to Japan as per Bloomberg reports.
Predictions of a huge earthquake inundating Japan with tsunami waves, has led to weekly arrival bookings to plumet lower by 83% for late June and early July 2025.
This prediction has reached far and wide. Entire social media feeds are filled with posts that warn travellers and residents of this prediction. Creators and netizens have managed to influence airlines themselves due to lower demand. Greater Bay Airlines and Hong Kong Airlines have both reduced their flights to Japan.
The Tatsuki earthquake prediction has truly impacted tourism in Japan as the Meteorological Department reminded people how modern science still cannot predict such disasters. Yoshihiro Murai, the governor of Miyagi perfecture, urged people to not pay heed to such rumours.
However, it is a scientific fact that Japan’s geographic location makes it prone to earthquakes and tectonic activity. It has, however, been a victim to the 2011 earthquake and tsunami damage causing large-scale damage to infrastructure and lives.
“The recent earthquake rumors are clearly having a negative effect on tourism to Japan and will likely cause a temporary slowdown in the current travel surge,” said Eric Zhu, an aviation and defense analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence. Zhu predicts that more airlines, especially Cathay Pacific, could experience challenges in the coming months, based on current booking trends and expected passenger volumes.
While the earthquake rumours have surged flight cancellation, the cheap yen still remains an attractive incentive for travellers. Tatsuki’s famous words “Interpret as you wish, but be wise” still resonate with many travellers, it seems.