Manga prophecy prompts travel exodus from Japan
Tourists are cancelling trips to Japan en masse due to a prediction found in a comic book. The author had previously predicted the Fukushima disaster in 2011 in another of her works.
According to CNN, tourists, especially from East Asia, are cancelling their travel plans to Japan on a large scale. The reason is a prediction contained in the 2021 manga (Japanese comic book) "The Future I Saw" by Ryo Tatsuki, which warns of an earthquake expected to occur on July 5th this year.
In 1999, Tatsuki predicted in another comic book that a disaster would occur in March 2011. When a powerful earthquake did indeed happen, causing a tsunami and a nuclear disaster at the Fukushima plant, her work gained fame.
Tourists fear the prediction
CN Yuen, director of the travel agency WWPKG, said that during Easter, a 50% drop in bookings was recorded, and it could be even worse in two months. Fears of the earthquake are deterring mainly tourists from China and Hong Kong, but also from Thailand and Vietnam, where Tatsuki's comics are very popular.
Japanese authorities, including the Prime Minister's Office, emphasize that even the most modern systems cannot predict earthquakes with the accuracy suggested by fortune tellers. The Governor of Miyagi Prefecture, Murai, expressed concern about the impact of unscientific rumours on tourism.
Ryo Tatsuki was recently asked for a comment on the cancelled bookings. The author stated that it is good that her work contributes to better preparedness for natural disasters.
