There have been consecutive cancellations of trips to Japan by Hong Kong residents due to the 'July catastrophe theory,' which predicts a large-scale disaster will occur in Japan this coming July. This is spreading through social media, attributed to the predictions of a cartoonist known for having accurately foreseen the Great East Japan Earthquake in March 2011.
According to reports by the Mainichi Shimbun on the 15th (local time), Hong Kong's Great Bay Airline plans to reduce its Sendai route from four times a week to three and the Tokushima route from three times a week to two, starting from the 12th of this month until October 25th. This is due to a sharp decline in demand for airline tickets following the dissemination of information regarding a potential disaster in Japan this July.
A spokesperson for Great Bay Airline noted, 'Many in Hong Kong believe in feng shui, and there are quite a few travelers who are worried about the catastrophe theory,' adding, 'We had no choice but to make this reduction in service to prevent losses.'
The 'July catastrophe theory' that unsettled Hong Kong residents comes from the complete edition of the Japanese manga 'I Saw the Future.' 'I Saw the Future,' created by author Ryō Tatsuki, depicts scenes he dreamed of long ago. First published in 1999, it gained attention for accurately predicting large-scale disasters that struck Japan, including the Great East Japan Earthquake in March 2011.
Since childhood, Tatsuki has kept a dream diary and mentioned that he has dreamt of globally significant events, including the death of Freddie Mercury, and that he also had a dream predicting a major disaster in 2011. His forecast for the COVID-19 pandemic also proved accurate. He stated through the manga, 'A new virus will emerge, peaking in April 2020, and will disappear.'
Tatsuki specifically mentioned in the newly published complete edition, which was revived after 20 years in 2021, that he dreamed of a disaster occurring this July. The book's promotional band states, 'The real catastrophe will come in July 2025.' He expressed, 'I have repeatedly dreamed the same dream recently. The day the disaster happens is July 2025,' claiming, 'The seabed in the Philippine Sea erupted, causing a large-scale tsunami (seismic sea wave) around Pacific Rim countries.'
Experts advise that there is no need to feel anxious as it is not scientifically proven information. Satoru Kikuchi, head of the Depopulation Disaster Prevention Center at Shinshu University, stated to Mainichi, 'You should verify whether the information is accurate' and emphasized, 'Instead of refraining from going out or sightseeing, it is important to maintain a normal lifestyle while preparing for possible disasters.'
Author Tatsuki also said, 'The interest in the manga shows an increasing awareness of disaster prevention' and added, 'It is important not to be too shaken by the content of the manga and to refer to expert opinions.'