A wave of anxiety has swept across Japan and neighboring countries following the resurfacing of a chilling prediction from a 2021 manga titled The Future I Saw, authored by retired Japanese artist Ryo Tatsuki. Often dubbed the “Japanese Baba Vanga” for her alleged foresight, Tatsuki claimed that a massive earthquake would strike Japan at exactly 4:18 AM on July 5, 2025, triggering a tsunami “three times larger” than the 2011 disaster.
The concern intensified after a real magnitude 5.5 earthquake hit near the Tokara Islands on July 3, along with more than 900 smaller tremors recorded since mid-June in southern Japan. Although such seismic activity is not unusual for the region, the timing has fueled public speculation and fear, particularly in online forums and on social media.
The prediction has had real-world consequences: reports from China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong suggest a steep drop in travel bookings to Japan, with some tour operators noting cancellations of over 80%.
However, Japanese authorities and seismologists have urged calm. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has issued no tsunami warnings and stressed that earthquakes cannot be predicted with specific dates or times. JMA Director-General Ryoichi Nomura publicly dismissed the July 5 prophecy as a “hoax,” warning against the spread of misinformation.
Despite the growing unease, life in Japan continues largely as normal, with local governments and emergency services on routine alert as part of the country’s standard earthquake preparedness measures.
Experts remind the public that while Japan remains one of the most seismically active regions in the world, predictions based on fictional or pseudoscientific sources should not be trusted. The best response, they advise, is to stay informed through official channels and ensure personal and community readiness for natural disasters.
