A Japanese manga artist known for her eerie and accurate predictions has sparked international concern with a new prophecy, leading to a noticeable drop in tourism to Japan.
Ryo Tatsuki, often referred to as the “new Baba Vanga,” has become known not just for her illustrations, but for forecasting significant global events with chilling precision. Among her most talked-about predictions are the death of Queen frontman Freddie Mercury, the release of his biopic, and the devastating 2011 Tōhoku earthquake, which killed thousands.
In her book The Future I Saw, originally published in 1996 and re-released in 2021, Tatsuki also mentioned an “unknown virus” arriving in 2020 — widely interpreted as the COVID-19 pandemic — and predicted it would peak in April and reemerge a decade later.
But it’s her latest prediction that has the public on edge. In the updated edition of her book, Tatsuki warns of a “real catastrophe” expected to hit on July 5. She describes a massive seismic event in the waters between Japan and the Philippines that could trigger waves “three times as tall” as those caused by the 2011 earthquake.
The prophecy details a crack opening beneath the sea, potentially due to volcanic activity, and mentions “boiling” seawater — suggesting a possible undersea eruption that could lead to a mega tsunami.
Travel Impact
As the ominous date draws near, concern is mounting — and it’s already affecting tourism. According to CN Yuen, managing director of Hong Kong-based travel agency WWPKG, bookings to Japan during the Easter period dropped by 50%.
Many cancellations are reportedly coming from travelers in mainland China, Hong Kong, Thailand, and Vietnam, with fears amplified by widespread social media coverage of Tatsuki’s predictions.
Airline traffic is feeling the impact too. Greater Bay Airlines has cut its Japan-bound flights from four to three per week, effective May 12 through October. A company spokesperson confirmed that the prophecy — along with Donald Trump’s trade policies — has contributed to the decline in demand.
Whether Tatsuki’s predictions come true remains to be seen, but her track record and the timing of her warnings are enough to make both skeptics and believers take notice.
