Key Points:
- A viral manga by Ryo Tatsuki, dubbed “Japan’s Baba Vanga,” predicts a catastrophic earthquake and tsunami on July 5, 2025, triggering widespread anxiety across Asia.
- The manga claims a crack will open beneath the sea between Japan and the Philippines, unleashing waves three times higher than the 2011 Tohoku tsunami.
- A 5.5-magnitude earthquake struck Japan’s Tokara Islands on July 3, following over 1,000 tremors in the region since late June, intensifying public fears.
- Travel bookings to Japan have plunged by up to 83% from some East Asian markets, with airlines reducing flights due to panic over the prophecy.
- Japanese officials and scientists urge calm, emphasizing no scientific basis for the manga’s prediction, but acknowledge the real risk of a Nankai Trough megaquake within the next 30 years.
- Government estimates warn a future Nankai megaquake could kill up to 298,000 people and cause $2 trillion in damage, but no credible forecast exists for July 5, 2025.
Tokyo: Japan is in the grip of a wave of anxiety as a decades-old manga prophecy predicting a catastrophic disaster on July 5, 2025, goes viral across Asia. The source is “The Future I Saw” by Ryo Tatsuki an artist now nicknamed “Japan’s Baba Vanga” for her alleged prophetic accuracy, including the 1995 Kobe earthquake and the 2011 Tohoku tsunami.
What Does the Manga Predict?
In the manga’s 2021 edition, Tatsuki describes a vision in which a deep crack opens on the ocean floor between Japan and the Philippines, triggering a tsunami “three times higher” than the devastating 2011 event. The story’s specificity naming July 5, 2025, as the date has fueled rampant speculation and fear, especially after a recent earthquake swarm in southern Japan.
Real Earthquakes Stoke Fears
On July 3, a magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck the Tokara Islands, following more than 1,000 tremors recorded in the area since June 21. Residents of Akuseki Island were evacuated as authorities warned of ongoing seismic activity. While no major damage was reported, the timing of the quake just two days before the manga’s predicted “doomsday” has only heightened public anxiety.
Social Media Panic and Travel Fallout
The prophecy has gone viral on social media, with hashtags like #July5Disaster trending in Japan, China, Taiwan, and across Southeast Asia. Videos and posts speculating about the potential for a megaquake or tsunami have racked up millions of views. The resulting panic has had real-world consequences:
- Airlines have cancelled or reduced flights from Hong Kong, China, and Southeast Asia to Japan.
- Travel bookings to Japan have dropped by as much as 83% in some markets, with tourism officials reporting a sharp decline in summer visitors.
- Economic analysts estimate Japan could lose nearly $4 billion in tourism revenue due to the panic.
Scientists: No Evidence for July 5 Disaster, But Real Risks Remain
Japan’s Meteorological Agency and earthquake experts have repeatedly stressed that there is no scientific basis for the manga’s July 5 prediction. While the Nankai Trough a major subduction zone off Japan’s Pacific coast remains a real seismic threat, there is no credible way to forecast a specific date for a major earthquake.
- Nankai Trough Megaquake Risk: Government panels estimate a 75–82% chance of a magnitude 8 or higher earthquake in the Nankai Trough within the next 30 years.
- Potential Impact: A worst-case scenario could see up to 298,000 deaths, 2.35 million buildings destroyed, and $2 trillion in economic losses.
- Recent Scientific Findings: New research on slow-slip earthquakes in the Nankai Trough suggests some stress may be released gradually, but the risk of a catastrophic “megathrust” event remains.
Official Response: Urging Calm and Preparedness
Japanese officials have called for calm, warning against the spread of unscientific rumors that could disrupt the economy and public order. The government has updated its disaster preparedness plans, aiming to reduce deaths and damage from any future Nankai quake by 80% and 50% respectively over the next decade.
“We must not let unscientific rumours disrupt our economy,” said Miyagi Governor Yoshihiro Murai.
While the manga prophecy has no scientific support, it has tapped into deep-seated anxieties in a country with a long history of devastating earthquakes and tsunamis. The real risk of a Nankai Trough megaquake remains, but there is no evidence or expert forecast for a disaster on July 5, 2025. Japanese authorities continue to emphasize preparedness and resilience, not panic.
