Japan Earthquake 2025: Japan's Meteorological Agency (JMA) has released new alerts of potential tremors in the sea southwest of its major islands following a string of more than 1,000 quakes that shook the isolated Tokara Islands in recent weeks, raising renewed fears among local residents and fanning rumors associated with so-called "prophecies" issued by manga artist Ryo Tatsuki, who has been referred to by some as the "New Baba Vanga." A 5.4-magnitude earthquake hit the Tokara Islands area on Saturday, after a stronger quake on Thursday compelled Japanese authorities to request that all 89 inhabitants of Akuseki Island, a tiny volcanic island in Kagoshima Prefecture, southern Japan, be evacuated. Authorities have asked residents to stay alert and ready for subsequent seismic activity in the region.

Old Manga Prediction Fuels New Fears Amid Seismic Activity

While tremors persist, Japanese social networks have rekindled interest for The Future I Saw, a comic published in 1999 by Ryo Tatsuki, who averred that her writing was inspired by visions she experienced while dreaming. The manga, which circulated online following the catastrophic 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, eerily stated a calamity to hit on March 11 the same day when the 9.0-magnitude earthquake and giant tsunami hit Fukushima, killing close to 20,000 people and leaving behind one of the world's worst nuclear catastrophes. In recent times, internet communities have revived pages from the manga and asserted that it predicts a megaquake and seabed split between Japan and the Philippines that might lead to a tsunami bigger than the one in 2011. Video clips warning of a possible "July 5 megaquake" went viral in Japan and parts of East Asia, sparking widespread speculation, anxiety over travel, and even cancelled tourist vacations to southern Japan and Kyushu.

Though Japan's leading seismologists and the JMA have denied any assertions that particular earthquakes could be forecasted based on visions, dreams or manga. Ayataka Ebita, head of the JMA's earthquake and tsunami observation division, explained that even though Japan has a developed monitoring system, “it is scientifically impossible to predict the exact date, time, and magnitude of an earthquake.” Ryo Tatsuki herself has also been quoted as saying she does not class herself as a prophet and has urged the public not to panic, requesting readers to believe scientific experts instead. "I am not Baba Vanga or Nostradamus. Do not spread fear based on my past work," Tatsuki said in a message posted online.

Japan's Hazardous Nankai Trough

Although the manga prophecy lacks scientific foundation, Japan is still extremely exposed to a disaster-striking earthquake on the Nankai Trough, a deep-sea trench from Suruga Bay to Kyushu where the Philippine Sea Plate is subducted under the Eurasian Plate. According to historical records, the area generates deadly earthquakes at intervals of 90 to 200 years, such as the 1707 Hōei earthquake and the 1946 Nankaidō earthquake. Authorities suggest there is an 80 per cent probability of a magnitude 8 or 9 megaquake along the Nankai megathrust over the next 30 years. The worst-case scenario would be tsunamis greater than 30 metres in height, the deaths of as many as 298,000 people, and damage to more than two million buildings, putting major coastal cities like Osaka, Nagoya, and Shizuoka at risk.

Against the backdrop of renewed public concern about so-called prophecies, Tokyo has proceeded with a comprehensive disaster preparedness plan that promises to lower earthquake deaths by as much as 80 per cent and halve structural damage within the next decade. The new policy involves retrofitting tens of millions of existing older homes, adding tsunami evacuation towers, upgrading AI and satellite-supported early warning systems, and staging more community-wide evacuation exercises. Over 200 specific measures under the plan will be examined every year by the Central Disaster Management Council headed by the Prime Minister, with extra funds provided to local governments to improve regional preparedness.

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At the same time, according to tourism business reports, superstition surrounding the "New Baba Vanga" prediction has already impacted bookings. A number of Asian airlines, including the country's largest carriers in Hong Kong, have reported falling bookings to Japan's southern islands and Kyushu for this summer. Some flights are being cut back owing to diminished demand, although Japanese authorities still tell tourists there is no confirmed threat of an impending megaquake.

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As tremors persist in the Tokara Islands and unusual ‘slow slip’ movements are detected deep under the sea in the Nankai Trough region, experts stress the importance of relying on science, not superstition. Japan’s advanced building codes and robust early warning systems remain among the strongest in the world. “The best defence against natural disasters is factual information and preparation, not fear driven by rumours,” the JMA stated.