Japanese clairvoyant’s doomsday warning sparks travel panic
A chilling prophecy by Japanese manga artist Ryo Tatsuki—dubbed the “New Baba Vanga” for her eerily accurate past predictions—has triggered mass anxiety across Asia, causing flight bookings to Japan to plummet by 83% in late June and early July.
The warning originates from Baba Vanga’s 1999 manga “The Future I Saw,” which previously foresaw the COVID-19 pandemic. The republished work now claims: “A great catastrophe will happen in Japan” on July 5, describing a seabed rupture between Japan and the Philippines that could unleash tsunami waves triple the height of the 2011 Tohoku disaster.
Travel industry reels as tourists flee bookings
Hong Kong Airlines has suspended flights to southern Japanese cities like Kagoshima and Kumamoto for July-August, citing nosediving demand linked to the prediction. Bloomberg Intelligence reports a 50% drop in Hong Kong-Japan bookings compared to 2024, with regional Boeing-operated routes seeing 15-20% cancellations.
“We expected around 80% of the seats to be taken, but actual reservations came to only 40%,” said Hiroki Ito, Japan office manager for Greater Bay Airlines, noting the anomaly during peak cherry blossom season. A Hong Kong travel agency confirmed spring holiday bookings halved year-over-year, with many travelers postponing trips.
Officials urge calm amid mounting hysteria
Miyagi Prefecture Governor Yoshihiro Murai dismissed the panic: “There is no reason to worry because the Japanese are not fleeing abroad… I hope people will ignore the rumours and visit.”
Yet Baba Vanga’s track record fuels unease. Her past accurate forecasts include:
- The 2011 Tohoku earthquake/tsunami
- Princess Diana’s death
- Freddie Mercury’s passing
- The COVID-19 pandemic
The seer also warns of a deadlier COVID variant emerging in 2030.
