Viral Doomsday Rumors Spook Tourists to Japan Despite Reassurance

Viral Rumors Impacting Japanese Tourism

• ⚠️ A viral rumor predicting a catastrophic earthquake in Japan on July 5th has significantly impacted the country's tourism boom.
• 📉 Arrivals from Hong Kong, where the rumors have gained traction, fell by 11% in May, affecting tour package sales by approximately 50%.
• ✈️ Some airlines have cancelled flights from Hong Kong due to a noticeable drop in passenger numbers.

Origin and Misinterpretation of Rumors

• 📚 The rumors stem from a Japanese manga titled "The Future I Saw" by artist Rio Tatsuki, which some interpret as predicting a major earthquake.
• 🗣️ Rio Tatsuki has denied being a prophet and stated that her work has been misinterpreted.
• 📅 While an earlier edition of her book warned of a disaster in March 2011 (the Fukushima event), social media has reinterpreted a new edition to predict a July 5th earthquake.

Scientific and Personal Perspectives

• 🌍 Japan is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, making it prone to earthquakes.
• 🔬 Seismologist Robert Geller emphasizes that scientific prediction of earthquakes is impossible and dismisses the rumors as extraordinary claims with flimsy evidence.
• 😟 Despite reassurances, some tourists, like Brendan Choy from Hong Kong, are hesitant to visit Japan during the predicted period due to safety concerns.
• ✈️ Even visitors from outside Hong Kong, like Serena Pang from Seattle, initially had concerns, though her husband was less worried.