The complete version of The Future I Saw



Japan has consistently been one of the most popular countries to visit among Asians. For Koreans, visiting Japan is affordable and just exotic enough. About one third of all overseas travel by Koreans was to Japan.

This year, a rumor about a massive earthquake in Japan began to go viral. The rumor originated from a manga called The Future I Saw written by Ryo Tatsuki in July 1999. The manga became famous for accurately predicting the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, which was depicted on its cover. One of the captions on the cover read “great disaster in March 2011.”



In 2021, Tatsuki released the complete version of the manga, which claimed that the next catastrophe would hit on July 5, 2025. This disaster was predicted to happen in the sea south of Japan with tsunamis three times larger than the one in 2011.

Scientific Facts and Authorities’ Response

As the rumor spread, experts and Japanese authorities stepped in. Ayaka Ebita, director of the Earthquake and Tsunami Observations Division at the JMA, stated that accurately predicting the exact date, time, and location of earthquakes is scientifically impossible using current technology. Worldwide seismologists agreed, but also warned about Japan’s inherent earthquake risks, emphasizing vigilance and asking people to focus on preparedness.

Impact in The Airline Industry

The prediction had a significant impact on the airline industry. Visitor arrivals from Hong Kong to Japan dropped 11.2% in May 2025 and further declined in the months following. Regional airports saw even steeper losses; arrivals at Takamatsu Airport dropped 31% in May alone. The decline continued through June and July with no rebound in August. This was due to a sharp decline in travel demand triggered by the viral July 5 megaquake prophecy.

The effect was also reflected in ticket prices. This was seen in East Asian countries, which have always been the biggest sources of visitors traveling to Japan. Flights from Taiwan to Tokyo, Osaka, and Okinawa saw price drops in July. The airfares from Korea to Japan dropped sharply in late June and early July. Some fares from Incheon to Osaka and Tokyo fell below 100,000won near July 5, historically low for the summer peak season.

However, in Korea, demand for flights to Japan rebounded quickly after July 5, aided by low fares and favorable currency exchange rates.

An Interview With a SeoulTech Student

The SeoulTech interviewed a student who traveled to Japan on July 5. When asked if he had heard about the earthquake prophecy, he replied that he had heard about it quite frequently and was surprised that many people around him were genuinely concerned. Although he usually doesn’t believe in superstitions, the widespread worry prompted him to look into it himself. He recalled that a YouTuber’s live stream of the “quake” was gaining popularity early that morning, and that he ended up watching the program himself.

When asked if he had sensed any anxiety related to the prophecy locally, he replied that everything seemed normal in Japan. He also said that he might have saved money by traveling during such a time. He said he was reminded that it’s important to filter out exaggerated news or information and live with a critical mindset.

Reporter

Jinpyo Hong

undohere@seoultech.ac.kr

Reporter 홍진표

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