Manga vs. Japan: How an Old Comic Scared Off Tourists

Or why you shouldn’t cancel your vacation over fictional prophecies

If you’re like me and love to travel —Place a bet with the help of pragmaticplay and pack your suitcase two days before takeoff, dreaming of breathing in the morning air in Kyoto or snapping photos at the foot of Mt. Fuji — then I’ve got some important and rather odd news for you.

Picture this: you’ve planned a trip to Japan — flights booked, hotels reserved, itinerary all set. But suddenly the internet starts buzzing: “Don’t go! A huge earthquake will hit in July 2025!” And surprisingly, all this panic stems from… an old Japanese manga that’s been re-released decades later.

Yes, you heard that right. The reason behind the hysteria isn’t scientific forecasts, government alerts, or emergency service bulletins. It’s just a reprint of a manga by artist Re Tatsuki titled “The Future I Saw.”

So where did all this panic come from?

The manga was first published in 1999 and didn’t attract much attention at the time. But years later, it gained a sort of cult status — especially after one of its “predictions” eerily came true.

In one of the chapters, it mentioned a devastating earthquake that would allegedly occur in March 2011. As we all remember, the Tohoku disaster did strike that year — with a powerful earthquake, a massive tsunami, and over 20,000 lives lost. The coincidence was so exact that many began to believe the author wasn’t just a creative mind, but a real prophet.

Now, in the manga’s re-release, readers have fixated on another ominous scene — a hint at a disaster supposedly expected in July 2025. That was enough to trigger a chain reaction. Tourists, especially from other parts of Asia, started canceling their bookings in a panic. Tour operators are sounding the alarm: according to them, reservations have dropped by nearly 50%.

What is Japan saying about all this?

The government has responded calmly but firmly:

“Don’t panic. This is just a work of fiction.”

Officials from tourism departments, emergency services, and even the scientific community have made statements assuring travelers that there are no signs of any impending natural disaster. Not a single scientist or geologist has confirmed anything remotely close to what’s described in the manga.

Moreover, Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has urged travelers not to cancel their plans without a valid reason. Artistic imagination is not a reliable source of information. Seriously — if we started canceling vacations based on comic books or movies, we’d never see the world at all.

Why does this matter?

Japan is a country of breathtaking nature, rich history, incredible food, and one of the world’s best safety infrastructures. They know exactly how to prepare for emergencies — from earthquake-resistant buildings to regular drills and well-timed alerts.

Think about it: every country has its natural risks — storms, wildfires, floods. But that doesn’t stop us from exploring. We travel because we know life goes on — and tourism is one of the ways we make it more vibrant.

But what about trust?

Of course, once a “prophecy” comes true, people start believing the rest. That’s just psychology — the confirmation bias at work. But it’s important to remember: it was still just a coincidence, not a pattern. The manga, like any other work of fiction, contains dozens, even hundreds of “predictions” that never came true — we just don’t notice those.

Even the artist herself never claimed to be a prophet. She simply illustrated things that fascinated, frightened, or impressed her — just like writers, filmmakers, and poets do.

So, should you go or not?

As someone who’s visited dozens of countries, here’s my advice: go!

If you’ve always dreamed of seeing Japan — don’t wait. Summer is a beautiful time for strolling through Kyoto, visiting hot springs, tasting sushi in Tokyo, or walking under lanterns at ancient temples.

Panic over fictional prophecies is no reason to cancel a dream.
But a good pair of sneakers, travel insurance, and a fully charged camera? That’s a perfect reason to go live it.

So, book those tickets, pack that suitcase — and off you go!
And don’t let comic book predictions scare you.
Because the real adventure is the one you choose for yourself.