Tourists to Japan spooked after comic book predicts doomsday
NBC2 days
Japan: Flights Canceled After Manga Doomsday Prediction
Above: People throw leaves with messages written on them into the sea in memory of the victims of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami disasters, in Fukushima Prefecture, on March 11, 2024. Image copyright: STR/JIJI Press/AFP/Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
This manga hysteria perfectly demonstrates how social media misinformation can devastate entire industries. The tourism sector is suffering real economic damage because people are choosing superstition over science. Airlines are cutting profitable routes, travel agencies are hemorrhaging bookings, and baseless fears are undermining Japan's recovery from previous tourism setbacks.
Narrative B
While the prediction itself may be speculative, the underlying concerns are very real. Experts have long warned that Japan faces a significant risk of a catastrophic earthquake within the next 30 years. In this context, the July 2025 forecast has understandably heightened public anxiety.