Japan Scared After Comic Predicts Big Quake on July 5

Photo: AFP

Many people across Japan and online are feeling anxious today due to a warning from an old Japanese manga (comic book). The manga claims that a massive earthquake will happen on July 5, 2025. This date, written in the manga more than 25 years ago, has now gone viral on social media and is causing concern among citizens.

The manga is called Watashi ga Mita Mirai – Kanzenban (The Future That I Saw – Complete Edition) and was published in 1999. It was written by artist Ryo Tatsuki, who said the story was based on her dreams about the future. On the cover of the manga, a clear warning is printed:

“The real disaster will come in July 2025.”

What the Manga Says

In the manga’s story, a huge earthquake hits somewhere between Japan and the Philippines, causing the ocean floor to break apart. This results in giant tsunami waves that are even bigger than the waves from the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

The manga has attracted attention before, as readers believe it predicted real events. It mentioned a “massive disaster in March 2011,” and Japan was in fact hit by the terrible Tohoku earthquake and tsunami that month, which killed more than 18,000 people.

Because that earlier prediction seemed to come true, many people now fear that the July 2025 disaster mentioned in the manga could also happen.

Experts Say Earthquakes Can’t Be Predicted

Despite the panic online, scientists and earthquake experts have clearly said that this manga prediction is not based on science.

Japan’s Meteorological Agency, which monitors earthquakes, weather, and tsunamis, explained that no one can predict the exact date or location of an earthquake.

They also said that while some large earthquakes are sometimes preceded by smaller tremors (called foreshocks), this is very rare and can’t be used to tell when a big quake is coming.

In short, there is no scientific way to know if or when an earthquake will strike.

Manga Artist Responds to the Panic

Ryo Tatsuki, the artist who wrote the manga, has asked people to stay calm and not to panic about her work. She explained that her manga was based on dreams she had, and she never claimed to predict the future. She encouraged readers to listen to scientists and official news sources, not fictional stories.

Real Earthquakes Happening Now in Tokara Islands

At the same time, there is real concern due to recent earthquake activity in southern Japan.

Since June 21, the Tokara Islands—a small island chain in southern Japan—have experienced more than 900 small earthquakes. On July 2, a magnitude 5.5 quake hit the region.

So far:

• No major damage has been reported.
• No tsunami warning has been issued.
• Authorities have advised residents to stay alert and be ready to evacuate.

One local resident told media,

“It’s very scary to even fall asleep. It feels like the ground is always shaking.”

Though such clusters of quakes have happened before in the area, the high number of tremors in a short time has made people feel uneasy, especially with the manga prediction going viral at the same time.

Real Threat: Nankai Trough Megaquake

While the manga is fictional, there is a real earthquake risk that scientists have warned about for years—the Nankai Trough.

The Nankai Trough is a long trench under the sea, located off the coast of southern Japan. Experts believe there is an 80% chance of a very large earthquake (possibly magnitude 9) happening here before the year 2055.

If this megaquake happens, it could:

• Destroy cities in southern Japan
• Cause huge tsunamis
• Possibly kill up to 300,000 people, according to estimates

Because of this serious threat, the Japanese government has already

• Improved early warning systems
• Built tsunami protection walls in some cities
• Trained people through regular earthquake and evacuation drills

Authorities continue to remind everyone that the Nankai Trough is the real danger, not a manga prediction.

What Should People Do?

• Even if the manga prediction is not real, it’s always important to be prepared in an earthquake-prone country like Japan. Here’s what people can do:
• Keep an emergency bag ready (with food, water, flashlight, radio, batteries, and medicine).
• Learn the fastest evacuation routes.
• Stay connected with official news and local updates.
• Avoid rumors or false information on social media.
• Stay calm, but stay prepared.

There is no reason to panic—but being ready can help protect lives in case of any real emergency.