Japanese flights cancelled after 90’s manga predicting July 5 disaster fuels travel fears

Flights across Japan were cancelled after a manga prediction sparked widespread fear among travellers. The manga, The Future I Saw by Ryo Tatsuki, was first published in 1999 and has gained attention for reportedly predicting events such as Japan’s 2011 earthquakes and the death of Freddie Mercury.

A 2021 reprint of the manga included a reference to a disaster on July 5 2025. The date caused concern among travellers, with many choosing not to fly out of superstition. 

As a result, Japanese airlines were forced to cancel flights due to low passenger numbers, and travel agencies issued statements urging people not to believe the rumours, assuring that travel was safe.

Tatsuki describes the manga as her “dream journal”, stating that the prophecies within it came to her during sleep, which she then recorded and developed into stories.

Reports from Asia News Network noted that the prediction created travel anxieties months in advance, with travellers arriving early in May to avoid the predicted disaster. 

The concerns were further heightened by seismologists who have warned about a potential “mega quake” along the Nankai Trough fault line; despite experts having confirmed that predicting the exact timing of earthquakes is not possible.

“Prophecies about earthquake timing have no scientific basis. If a quake happens in July, it would be pure coincidence,” said a University of Tokyo disaster research professor. “Believing rumours is unwise, but it is crucial to prepare on the assumption that an earthquake can strike anywhere at any time.”

With July 5 having passed without incident, the specific manga prediction has not come to pass. However, some travellers remain cautious about visiting Japan, with officials noting that baseless social media rumours continue to affect tourism.