Ryo Tatsuki, a Japanese graphic novel artist and psychic, has recently made headlines with her ominous prediction of a significant disaster set to occur in Japan on July 5, 2025. This forecast has spooked many individuals, leading to a noticeable spike in canceled summer vacations to Japan. Comparisons have been drawn between Tatsuki and Baba Vanga, the renowned Bulgarian mystic known for her accurate prophecies. Her previous predictions have reportedly encompassed pivotal global events, including the deaths of notable figures like Freddie Mercury and Princess Diana, as well as the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
In her latest installment titled “The Future I Saw,” released in 2021, Tatsuki’s predictions are causing panic akin to fear stemming from her earlier forecasts. In a 1999 edition of her manga, she warned of a catastrophic disaster hitting Japan in March 2011, which coincided with the devastating earthquake and tsunami that resulted in the deaths of over 18,000 people and the Fukushima nuclear disaster. This history of eerily accurate predictions has exacerbated public anxiety surrounding her recent prophecy, leading to widespread caution and advice against traveling to Japan.
In light of the impending doomsday date, many travelers, particularly from key markets like South Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, are reconsidering their plans. Flight reservations have dropped sharply, with a notable 50% decline in bookings from Hong Kong compared to the previous year. Particularly concerning for travel agencies, trips scheduled for late June to early July have decreased by as much as 83%. Additionally, reservations during Japan’s popular April-May spring break season have also fallen by 50%, signaling significant economic implications for the nation’s tourism industry.
Despite the growing concerns among travelers, Japanese authorities have urged the public to disregard Tatsuki’s warnings as unsubstantiated. Yoshihiro Murai, the governor of Miyagi Prefecture, emphasized the detrimental effects of spreading unfounded rumors on social media. He reassured potential visitors that there is no reason for alarm and expressed hope that people would continue to visit Japan, emphasizing the resilience and normalcy of the populace despite heightened anxieties.
Compounding these worries, Japanese officials are increasingly vigilant regarding seismic activity, particularly following a government task force’s alarming prediction that a quake off Japan’s Pacific coast could result in as many as 298,000 fatalities. Japan’s geographic location on the Pacific “Ring of Fire” renders it highly susceptible to earthquakes. While experts stress the unpredictability of such disasters, the tension surrounding Tatsuki’s publications fuels public apprehension about potential dangers.
Tatsuki’s predictions extend beyond earthquakes. In “The Future I Saw,” she anticipates the re-emergence of COVID-19 in 2030, predicting even more severe consequences compared to the previous outbreak that claimed over 7 million lives. Her foresight describes an “unknown virus” that would make yet another appearance a decade post-2020. Presently, this aligns with reports of a new, infectious COVID strain in China affecting healthcare systems in the U.S., raising additional alarms about public health. Amidst the foreboding predictions, Tatsuki herself advises people to remain grounded, urging them not to let her forecasts unduly influence their decisions and to seek expert opinions.
