Strange Reason Flights to This Popular Country Are Being Canceled

Japan's red-hot tourism boom just hit an unexpected turbulence thanks to an old comic book.

Reuters reported that airlines are suspending flights, tours are being slashed in half, and travelers across Asia are rethinking their vacations, all because of a viral rumor predicting a catastrophic earthquake on July 5, 2025.

The prediction didn’t come from scientists. It came from the pages of a manga titled The Future I Saw by Ryo Tatsuki, first published in 1999.

The comic gained a second life online after readers connected its reference to a 2011 disaster with recent claims that a new catastrophe would strike this summer. Panic quickly spread through social media, especially in Hong Kong, prompting widespread concern and real-world fallout.

Hong Kong-based Greater Bay Airlines announced this week it would suspend service to Tokushima, Japan, citing weak demand. The airline isn’t alone. Tour agencies like EGL Tours reported that bookings to Japan were cut in half, despite offering steep discounts and earthquake insurance to offset fears.

“The rumors have had a significant impact,” said Steve Huen, executive director at EGL Tours.

Japan had recorded an all-time monthly high of 3.9 million international visitors in April. But in May, arrivals from Hong Kong dropped 11% compared to the previous year.

Even individual travelers are second-guessing their plans. One visitor from Hong Kong told Reuters, “If possible, I might delay my trip and go after September.”

Japan sits along the Pacific Ring of Fire, where earthquakes are common, but experts say there’s no scientific basis for the manga’s claims.

“None of the predictions I've experienced in my scientific career have come close at all,” said University of Tokyo seismologist Robert Geller.

Even the manga’s author issued a statement saying she is not a prophet.

Still, the damage has been done. While many travelers like Seattle’s Serena Peng continue their trips, others are holding back. Airlines and tour operators are watching closely to see whether fear fades or lingers long enough to reshape Japan’s tourism rebound.

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Strange Reason Flights to This Popular Country Are Being Canceled first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 5, 2025