Title: “The Forecast of Disasters by Japanese Manga Writer Ryotaro Kusakari in ‘My Future'”
In the year 2021, Japanese manga writer Ryotaro Kusakari published a manga titled “My Future,” which predicted a major disaster would occur on July 5, 2025. This prediction has been widely circulated online, leading to a significant decrease in the number of foreign tourists visiting Japan. The Japanese government and experts have had to issue denials, emphasizing that there is no scientific basis for this prophecy.
Ryotaro Kusakari began recording his dreams in 1976, collecting them into a collection called “Dream Diary.” In “My Future,” he documented 15 premonitions he had experienced, with 13 of them being confirmed to be accurate.
In October 2021, Kusakari released “My Future Complete Edition,” adding content since its first publication in 1999. He predicted a devastating earthquake and tsunami on July 5, 2025, potentially sinking one-third of Japan’s land.
As July 5 approached, Kusakari’s predictions were widely shared on social media, sparking public concern and worry. The Japanese government and scientific institutions actively responded. The National Geographic Society collaborated with universities to create an earthquake prediction model, denying the scientific basis of the prophecy. The Japan Meteorological Agency and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism repeatedly emphasized that current global seismic activity is in a “quiet period,” with no signs indicating a major earthquake will occur soon. Experts advised the public to focus on disaster preparedness rather than believing in specific dates for predictions, a position reiterated in media coverage.
In an interview, Kusakari clarified that he was merely recording dreams and not intending to cause panic.
In his new work “Orbital Correction” released in June 2025, he stated that “July 5 is not going to happen,”
The response to “a major disaster on July 5” on Japanese social media platforms was polarized, leading to conspiracy theories such as “the author was threatened by high-ups” and “the government covered up the truth.” Some canceled their travel plans due to fear, while others responded humorously, like “spend your money, go together on July 5.” This controversy also exposed the destructive power of rumors in the information age, particularly impacting the tourism industry significantly, with some airlines considering the reduced number of visitors from Japan, reducing their flight schedules accordingly.
Yangtze Evening News International News Studio: Song Shifeng