Volcano eruption, series of earthquakes in Japan: Is manga artist’s prediction coming true?

A series of earthquakes near Japan’s remote Tokara Islands, along with a major eruption from a long-dormant volcano, has further fuelled speculation about a disaster striking Japan on July 5.

This speculation is partly driven by manga artist Ryo Tatsuki, whose earlier work is believed by many to have predicted the 2011 disaster. She has now suggested that another major event could strike Japan in early July.

In her 2021 manga, The Future I Saw, she wrote about a crack forming under the sea between Japan and the Philippines. This, she said, would lead to a tsunami three times stronger than the one in 2011.

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Seismologists have not found any connection between the current activity and the prediction. But the timing of the events has left some members of the public uneasy, as it matches closely with the widely shared warning from Tatsuki.

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So, what’s happening in Japan? What is the manga artist’s prediction, and how credible is it?

We answer all the questions below:

Series of earthquakes, volcano eruption: What’s happening in Japan?

Mount Shinmoedake erupted on Thursday, sending a powerful blast into the sky and a thick cloud of ash, making it one of its most intense eruptions in recent years.

Japan’s Meteorological Agency has warned of falling volcanic rocks and fast-moving flows within about two miles of the volcano.

This afternoon: A powerful eruption occurred at Mount Kirishima’s Shinmoedake crater at 1:49 PM (local time).

Volcanic smoke rose an estimated 5,000 meters into the sky. Ongoing activity continues to be closely monitored.( July 03, 2025)

📍 Shinmoedake, Kyushu, Japan pic.twitter.com/B1SjPXNmIV

— Weather Monitor (@WeatherMonitors) July 3, 2025

Notably, Mount Shinmoedake, located in the Kirishima range between Kagoshima and Miyazaki prefectures, had last erupted in 2018. It became active again on June 22.

Officials have advised people in the area to remain indoors and be ready for emergencies.

The explosion covered parts of Miyazaki and Kagoshima in heavy ash. The Meteorological Agency had raised the alert level to three on June 27 after signs of growing volcanic activity were noticed.

Shimizu Hiroshi, head of the monitoring committee, said: “While this eruption doesn’t currently involve new magma, the possibility remains. Close monitoring is essential.”

Authorities are keeping a constant watch on the mountain as people stay alert for possible aftershocks.

Meanwhile, more than 1,000 earthquakes have been recorded on a small island in southern Japan, leading to evacuations.

An official told AFP that people on Akuseki Island were asked to move to a school playground for safety.

Akuseki is part of the Tokara island group, located south of the Kyushu region. Since June 21, the area has seen 1,031 quakes.

What is the prediction by ‘Japanese Baba Vanga’?

Fans of manga artist Ryo Tatsuki believe many of her predictions, based on dreams and featured in her comic books, have come true in the past.

Because of this, some now call her the ‘Japanese Baba Vanga’, a nod to the late Bulgarian mystic who was said to have predicted major events like the 9/11 attacks, the rise of ISIS, and Barack Obama’s election.

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In one of her manga stories, Tatsuki writes about a deep crack forming under the sea between Japan and the Philippines.

Whether it comes to pass or not, it's having an effect on air travel in Japan.

The Future That I Saw 👁️
Japanese Comic Predicts Massive Disaster for July 2025 (July 5, 2025 at 4:18 a.m.)

Retired comic artist Ryo Tatsuki claims that she has been having prophetic dreams for… pic.twitter.com/WJ6eqOdF8P

— UFO CHRONICLES PODCAST🎙️𝕏 (@UFOchronpodcast) July 3, 2025

She says this would trigger huge waves, three times higher than those that struck Japan in the 2011 tsunami.

The prediction has gone viral across East Asia. Thousands of videos have been shared online in countries like Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, and South Korea.

On X, many users have linked this claim to concerns about a potential megaquake in the Nankai Trough.

What authorities and Tatsuki are saying

Ryo Tatsuki has asked people not to treat her prediction too seriously.

In a recent interview, she said people should stay calm and rely on experts instead of her visions.

Seismologists have also rejected any connection between her prediction and recent seismic activity. They say there is no scientific way to predict exactly when, where, or how strong an earthquake will be.

Ayataka Ebita, director of the earthquake and tsunami observation division at Japan’s Meteorological Agency, told AFP: “We are aware that such tales are circulating, but that is a hoax.”

He added, “With today’s science and technology, it is not possible to predict earthquakes.”

The Japan Meteorological Agency also issued a statement online saying: “Any such predictions should be considered unreliable.”

The rumour has still had an impact. Tourism from East Asia has dropped sharply.

According to Bloomberg Intelligence, bookings from Hong Kong are down by 50 per cent compared to 2024. Between late June and early July, the fall is as steep as 83 per cent.

Japan’s megaquake warning that could kill 300,000

In April this year, the Japanese government released a report warning of the devastating effects if a powerful earthquake hits the Nankai Trough, a region off the country’s Pacific coast.

The report warned of possible losses worth $1.81 trillion and said up to 300,000 people could die if the feared quake were to strike.

Japan faces frequent earthquakes due to its location. Experts say there is an 80 per cent chance of a magnitude 8 to 9 quake in the Nankai Trough.

This undersea trench stretches about 800 kilometres, from Hyuganada near Kyushu to Suruga Bay in central Japan.

The country has suffered major disasters in the past, including the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami, which led to the Fukushima nuclear crisis. That 9.0-magnitude quake caused the worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl.

Notably, Japan sits at the meeting point of four major tectonic plates, making it one of the world’s most earthquake-prone nations.

With inputs from agencies