Manga doomsday prediction spooks tourists to Japan
Manga doomsday prediction spooks tourists to Japan
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alt="FILE PHOTO: A sales banner written by the store reading Whether you believe it or not is up to you is displayed next to the comic book titled The Future I saw, authored by manga artist Ryo Tatsuki, on the shelf at the book store Village Vanguard in Tokyo, Japan June 30, 2025. REUTERS/Issei Kato/File Photo"/>A comic about an impending disaster in Japan sparked fear among tourists in Japan.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Hong KongTOKYO/HONG KONG - Viral rumours of impending disaster stemming from a comic book prediction have taken the sheen off Japans tourism boom, with some airlines cancelling flights from Hong Kong where passengers numbers have plunged.
Japan has seen record numbers of visitors this year, with April setting an all-time monthly high of 3.9 million travellers.
However, arrivals from Hong Kong in May dropped 11% from the same period last year after rumours of an impending disaster circulated widely in the financial city.
Steve Huen of Hong Kong-based travel agency EGL Tours blamed a flurry of social media predictions tied to a manga that depicts a dream of a massive earthquake and tsunami hitting Japan and neighbouring countries in July 2025.
The rumours have had a significant impact, said Mr Huen, adding that his firm had seen its Japan-related business halve. Discounts and the introduction of earthquake insurance had prevented Japan-bound travel from dropping to zero, he added.
Hong Kong resident Branden Choi, 28, said he was a frequent traveller to Japan but was hesitant to visit the country during July and August due to the manga prediction.
If possible, I might delay my trip and go after September, he said.
Ryo Tatsuki, the artist behind the manga titled The
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