Tourists abandon Japan over comic book earthquake prophecy
Tourists are cancelling trips to Japan en masse due to a prediction found in a comic book. The author previously predicted the Fukushima disaster in 2011 in another of her works.
According to CNN, tourists, particularly from East Asia, are cancelling their travel plans to Japan significantly. The reason is a prediction detailed in 2021 in the manga (Japanese comic book) "The Future I Saw" by Ryo Tatsuki, which warns of an earthquake expected to occur on 5th July this year.
In 1999, Tatsuki predicted in another comic book that a disaster would occur in March 2011. When a powerful earthquake did 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 is expected to worsen 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, emphasise 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 to comment on the cancelled bookings. The author stated that it is good that her work contributes to better preparedness for natural disasters.
Source: CNN
