Asian visitors to Japan fell because of a manga prediction. Here’s why
The Japanese manga fan reads a comic book at his home in Kamisu in Ibaraki, Japan.
Philip Fung | AFP | Getty Images
Visitors to Japan fell in June and a “disaster” will hit Japan in July 2025 in the midst of a manga in a manga.
The estimation was re -printed by a Japanese comic book or 2021 titled “Watshi Ga Mita Mirai, Kanzenban” (“Future, Complete Edition”) of the artist Ryo Tatsuki.
In the original edition of the book in 1999, the cover page refers to “disaster in March 2011”.
In March 2011, Japan broke the record of the most powerful earthquake, the major tohoku earthquake that caused about 20,000 deaths and Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster.
. Amazon List According to a Google translation, re -printing, the author “real disaster in July 2025”, including the “new prophecy dreams” said.
Hong Kong -based travel agency WWPKG General Manager CN Yuen said that CNBC is widely wandering through the mainstream media, TV networks and Youtube impressive.
According to the Japan National Tourism Organization, visitors from Hong Kong decreased by 11.2% in May 33.4% annually in June.
Yuen said that his agency has seen a 50% decrease in Japan in April and May compared to last year to Japan.
Tourists from other Asian countries also experienced slower growth. Those from South Korea increased only 3.8% in June. Those who came from Taiwan also slowed significantly from a 15.5% increase in May in May.
According to Japan’s travel statistics, foreign visitors to Japan grew by 24% from January to May of this year. However, the June arrival increased only 7.6%.
‘Excellent Storm’
Yuen from WWPKG said he was accustomed to touring the regression of natural disasters that usually ended after the incident.
But he said, “This time it is different, because nothing happened. It’s just a rumor or prophecy.” “For the first time we saw such an event.”
Hong Kong and Japanese Media Previously reported in July Hong Kong airlines cut flights to some Japanese cities, including Nagoya.
A January Report Japan’s asahi shimbunYuen warned the country’s headquarters to promote earthquake research, and warned that the possibility of a megaquake increased to 80%in the next 30 years – a “perfect storm” to determine travelers with guess.
But, Japan’s meteorological agency said: “It should be noted that the information showing high potential for a nankai pit earthquake does not necessarily mean that it will strike.”
Asian tourists were more impressed than the west
Jntto data showed that the share of Asian tourists fell annually in June, but the share of Western countries increased.
Experts CNBC, including cultural ones gave various reasons.
“Manga is widely read among the age groups and carries a little cultural authority in some Asian societies,” said the high -level lecturer at the University of James Cook. He said.
This, when combined with the memories of past disasters and the reality of Japan’s seismic fragility, said that such warnings mean “echoing strongly” in the region.
Hospitality and Tourism Management Associate Professor Kiattipoom Kiaatkawsin from the Singapore Institute of Management, the rapid spread of rumors through social media platforms and that many Asian society’s cholectivist nature leads to a social strengthening of the perceived risk.
“This means that even if some individuals have doubts, their communities or peers can significantly affect the decisions of the collective reaction and lead to widespread behavior such as travel cancellations.” He said.
“In this case, a fictional narrative strengthened by social media could have created a compelling reason if there was a scientifically unfounded reason to postpone the travel.” He said.
However, both experts pointed to an ordinary reason: short -distance travel flexibility.
Kiatkawsin said that the costs of canceling flights and hotel reservations are no longer perceived as an obstacle.
“If they do not go to Japan this time, they can do another time without having too much difficulty to reorganize.”
Kiatkawsin, considering that the estimation is limited to July, said he did not expect the prediction that Japan would affect the general travel appearance.
– Kaela Ling from CNBC contributed to this story.
