Cancellations of Trips to Japan Surge Due to "July Catastrophe" Prophecy from Manga
Airlines Reduce Flights as Rumors Spread Among Hong Kong Residents
Reports indicate that cancellations of trips to Japan by Hong Kong residents are increasing, as the so-called "July Catastrophe Theory"?which claims a major disaster will strike Japan in July?is spreading in places such as Hong Kong.
On May 15, the Mainichi Shimbun reported, "Cancellations of trips to Japan by Hong Kong residents are continuing, as a prophecy of a 'July catastrophe' by a manga artist?who is said to have predicted the March 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake in a precognitive dream?is spreading via social networking services (SNS) and other channels."
The "July Catastrophe Theory" originated from the Japanese manga "The Future I Saw." "The Future I Saw" is a work by author Tatsuki Ryo, who illustrated scenes from dreams he had long ago. The manga gained attention after several of its predictions?including the March 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and other major disasters in Japan?were seen as accurate.
Tatsuki, who has kept a dream journal since childhood, mentioned that he dreamed of globally significant events such as the death of Freddie Mercury, and that he also dreamed of a major disaster coming in 2011. He also accurately predicted the COVID-19 pandemic, stating in his manga, "A new virus will appear, peak in April 2020, and then disappear."
When Tatsuki published a complete edition of his manga in 2021, twenty years after the original, he specifically stated that he dreamed of a disaster occurring in July of this year. The book’s wraparound band even reads, "The real catastrophe will come in July 2025." He said, "Recently, I have repeatedly had the same dream. The day the disaster occurs is July 2025," adding, "The seabed in the middle of the Philippine Sea erupted, and a massive tsunami (seismic sea wave) struck countries surrounding the Pacific from the ocean surface." In addition, a famous feng shui master in Hong Kong also stated that "the risk of earthquakes in Japan will increase between June and August," further amplifying anxiety among Hong Kong residents.
As these rumors spread, demand for travel to Japan plummeted. According to Mainichi, Greater Bay Airlines, a Hong Kong-based carrier, has reduced its Hong Kong?Sendai flights from four to three per week, and its Hong Kong?Tokushima route from three to two per week, from May 12 through October 25. This is a response to the sharp decline in demand for travel to Japan. A representative of Greater Bay Airlines told Mainichi, "Many people in Hong Kong believe in feng shui, and there are quite a few travelers worried about the catastrophe theory," adding, "We had no choice but to reduce flights in order to prevent losses."
However, experts advise that there is no need for anxiety, as these claims are not based on scientifically proven information. Satoru Kikuchi, Director of the Regional Disaster Prevention Center at Shinshu University, told Mainichi, "It is important to carefully check whether the information is accurate," emphasizing, "Rather than refraining from going out or traveling, it is important to prepare for disasters in daily life and maintain a normal routine."
Tatsuki also stated, "It is important not to be overly swayed by (the content of the manga) and to refer to expert opinions." Asuka Shinsha, the publisher of Tatsuki’s book, likewise commented, "This book we publish is based on the author’s precognitive dreams and is by no means intended to incite anxiety among people," adding, "When it comes to matters such as disasters, it is important to respond carefully and appropriately by consulting expert advice and other reliable sources."
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