Source: Hangzhou Traffic and Economic Radio
With only one day left until the “Great Disaster” predicted by Japanese manga artist Ryotaro Okamoto in his “The Future I See” to occur on July 5, 2025, which is three times larger than a major earthquake in Japan, this prediction has sparked a chain reaction in Japanese society, leading to an increase in sales of disaster prevention products.
Some airlines have quietly reduced flights to Japan, increasing travel there. Representatives from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in Japan confirmed this trend.
An anonymous well-known broadcaster stated, “Whether true or false, I will take my son out of Tokyo on the 5th.” He revealed that he had planned to create a special program about this matter, but was rejected by the TV station for “avoiding causing public panic.” Interestingly, the person who rejected him admitted privately, “In fact, I also planned to take my family out of town for a trip starting from the 4th.”
Meanwhile, Japanese citizens continue their normal routine. Some netizens posted photos of their work saying “the company doesn’t let us take off without work,” while others posted messages saying “I decided to wait at the street with my pet at 4 a.m. on the 5th.”
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, around 16:13 local time (15:13 Beijing time) on July 3,
A 5.5 magnitude earthquake occurred near the sea, with the strongest feeling being a seismic intensity of “6 weak” (the second-highest level among the ten levels of seismic intensity set by the Japan Meteorological Agency). The epicenter was 20 kilometers deep.
There is no risk of a tsunami.
Furthermore, according to the Kyushu Provincial Meteorological Observatory, around 13:49 local time (12:49 Beijing time) on July 3,
A volcanic eruption occurred at Mount Nebuta, located in the border area between Kagoshima Prefecture and Miyako Prefecture, resulting in a volcanic ash column reaching up to 5,000 meters.
Southern Kyushu’s Tuguhara Islands and their vicinity have been experiencing frequent seismic activity since June 21, with over a thousand felt earthquakes recorded as of July 3.
Tuguhara Islands, located in the southern part of Kyushu Prefecture, consist of 12 islands, seven of which are inhabited. Frequent seismic activity was also observed in December 2021 and September 2023.
In response to the recent spate of seismic activity in the nearshore area of Tuguhara Islands in Japan’s Kyushu Prefecture, the Meteorological Agency of Japan convened an emergency meeting on the afternoon of July 2nd local time.
The Meteorological Agency stated that the frequent seismic activity has made it difficult for local residents to feel at ease, hence the need for this emergency meeting.
It is currently impossible to determine when the frequent seismic activities will end. The Meteorological Agency advises local residents to stay safe and be prepared to seek shelter at any moment.
Furthermore, there has been a recent rumor claiming that a major earthquake could occur on July 5th in Japan. This rumor originated from a Japanese comic artist who described his dream in a comic. In response to this rumor,
Yoshihiro Noda, the Director-General of the Meteorological Agency, pointed out that this claim is purely unfounded and baseless, and the public should not believe it. He urged foreign tourists visiting Japan to remain calm and rational.
Noda explained that Japan, being a country prone to earthquakes, can experience them at any time. However, with current technological levels, it is still impossible to accurately predict the magnitude of an earthquake occurring on a specific day or location in the future. Therefore, the rumor about a major earthquake happening on July 5th is entirely unfounded. He called on foreign tourists not to trust such lies and reminded them to be cautious while traveling to Japan, preparing for disasters.