Japan’s Mount Shinmoedake erupted in the afternoon on Wednesday, sending thick ash clouds soaring into the air. Authorities immediately issued alerts telling individuals to avoid the site for safety reasons.
As news of the eruption spread, social media lit up with mentions of a popular prediction by Japanese manga artist Ryo Tatsuki, who had earlier warned of a major catastrophe in Japan in 2025. Often compared to Baba Vanga for her striking predictions, Tatsuki’s prophecy which pointed to a disaster in early June resurfaced online, with many linking it to the sudden volcanic eruption.
Japan’s meteorological agency also issued an alert, observing, “The plume reached a height of 3,000 metres (9,800 feet) for the first time since April 3, 2011.”
Video released by the Meteorological Agency depicted lava flows and dense grey smoke spewing out of the volcano late Wednesday night.
At the same time, a powerful earthquake on Thursday, one of over 1,000 quakes in Kagoshima prefecture in the past two weeks. It added further fuel to speculation linked to the manga’s anticipated July catastrophe.
Following a 5.5-magnitude earthquake off southern Kyushu, regional authorities acted to evacuate people from surrounding isolated islands on Friday.
Japan’s government on Saturday warned that additional earthquakes may hit the area but warned the public not to be swayed by unsubstantiated disaster reports going around on the internet.
The manga’s original publication was thought by some to have predicted the disastrous March 2011 Japanese earthquake and tsunami. Its new edition is being read by some as predicting a major disaster on July 5, 2025, something that creator Ryo Tatsuki has dismissed.
Meanwhile, these viral prophecies and speculations have begun affecting tourist traffic in Japan, reports Reuters.
While Japan recorded a record high month of 3.9 million visitors in April, May tourist arrivals fell.
A surge in social media forecasts tied to a manga about a fantasy vision of a huge earthquake and tsunami hitting Japan and the surrounding countries in July 2025 had damaged business, Hong Kong-based EGL Tours’ Steve Huen said.
“Rumours have taken their toll,” Huen said, adding that his agency’s Japan bookings dipped by half.
Branden Choi, a 28-year-old from Hong Kong who regularly visits Japan, confessed he was cautious about going during July and August due to the manga’s prophecy.
“If possible, I may postpone my visit and travel after September,” he said.
