Asian Bookings to Japan Plunge Over Quake Rumor

Travel bookings to Japan from major Asian markets, including Taiwan, South Korea, and Hong Kong, have dropped sharply due to viral fears over a manga artist's prediction of a catastrophic earthquake in July 2025. The prediction, originally made by Ryo Tatsuki in a 1999 graphic novel and revived after a 2021 republication, has caused Japan-bound airline bookings to fall by up to 50%, with some Hong Kong arrivals declining as much as 83%. Airlines such as Greater Bay Airlines and Hong Kong Airlines have responded by reducing flights to Japan. Miyagi Prefecture's governor and Japan's Meteorological Agency have publicly urged people to disregard the prediction, emphasizing that earthquakes cannot be predicted scientifically. Despite the panic, Japan saw a record 3.9 million international visitors in April, partly due to a favorable exchange rate. The episode underscores the influence of social media on travel trends and ongoing concerns about Japan's vulnerability to natural disasters.