Manga artist Ryo Tatsukibetter known for The future I sawHe is facing widespread criticisms after his widely widespread forecast of a catastrophic natural disaster on 5 July 2025 was unable to materialize.
The statement, present in a republished edition of his manga, provided for a huge underwater earthquake and tsunami at the peace level causing a panic wave through social media and consequences in the real world for the Japanese tourist industry.
Fear for fiction: the manga spreads the anxiety of the real world
Doomsday’s scenario has become viral on platforms such as Tiktok, Twitter and online forum, pushing thousands of people to cancel the travel plans. According to the travel data company Forwardkeys, flight reservations from Hong Kong to Japan decreased by 50%and reservations between the end of June and the beginning of July decreased by 83%. The Japanese tourism agency also reported mass cancellations from Taiwan and South Korea.
Despite the panic, no serious disaster has occurred. The Japanese meteorological agency recorded an earthquake of magnitude 5.3 near the Tokara islands on July 5, but the officials confirmed that it was a seismic routine event without a threat of tsunami stressing that earthquakes cannot be foreseen with precise dates or places.
Tatsuki replies but the critics remain skeptical
On July 4, only one day before the expected event, Tatsuki He issued a public declaration, claiming to have never approved the warning of the day of the judgment on the coverage of the manga. He said the text was added by his publisher without consent.
However, the statement was unable to calm the recourse. Online users accused Tatsuki to capitalize fear, defining irresponsible and non -ethical forecast. Some have even labeled a “fraud”, claiming that even speculative fiction has the power to mislead and damage when it was brought out of the context.
“He knew exactly what he was doing. This type of affirmation causes real damage”, “ He wrote a Netizen.
Impact of tourism and seismic reality
While many have expressed relief from the fact that the expected catastrophe has not occurred, experts warn that Japan remains highly vulnerable to real seismic threats. According to the seismologist of the University of Yonsei Hong Tae-KyungThere is a probability of 80% of a serious earthquake that affects Nankai depression within the next 30 years.
The controversy on the manga, although of an imaginary nature, served as a reminder of how the intentional disinformation or not can become impact through society, especially in the nations at risk of catastrophes such as Japan.
In response to frenzy, Japanese officials urged the public to rely exclusively on credible sources and based on science for preparation for catastrophes. The Japanese meteorological agency continues to monitor seismic activity and stressed that imaginary forecasts should not be treated as reliable forecasts.
With regard to Ryo TatsukiHis reputation is now in the balance caught between the artistic freedom and the consequences of the real world of the speculative narrative.
