No Catastrophe on July 5: Ryo Tatsuki’s Manga Prediction Falls Flat

Yesterday, Japan braced for a potential disaster foretold by manga artist Ryo Tatsuki in her cult classic, The Future I Saw. Her prediction of a catastrophic tsunami on July 5, 2025, fueled by a vivid dream of a seabed fracture between Japan and the Philippines, had sparked widespread anxiety and a notable drop in tourism, particularly from Hong Kong and Taiwan. However, as the clock ticked past midnight, the day passed without incident, leaving many to question the validity of her prophetic visions.

Tatsuki, often dubbed “Japan’s Baba Vanga” for her eerie 2011 Tohoku earthquake prediction, had warned of waves “three times higher” than the 2011 disaster. The prophecy, detailed in the 2021 edition of her manga, led to canceled flights and a reported 83% drop in Hong Kong-to-Japan bookings for early July, according to Bloomberg data. Social media amplified the panic, with some users linking her vision to the recently discovered Apolaki Caldera near the Philippines.

The non-event may cool the hype around Tatsuki’s work, which has sold over 1 million copies.

As Japan moves forward, the episode underscores the power of cultural narratives in shaping public perception, even when the waves don’t come. For now, the nation’s focus shifts back to its usual rhythm—prepared, but not paralyzed, for whatever the future holds.