TOKYO, Jul 05 (News On Japan) –
A rumor predicting a serious catastrophe in Japan this July has unfold extensively in Hong Kong, prompting a pointy drop in inbound tourism from the area and even flight suspensions.
On July 4th, many international vacationers might nonetheless be seen round central Osaka. Might noticed a document variety of worldwide guests to Japan for that month, reflecting a continued growth in inbound tourism. Nevertheless, information present that vacationers from Hong Kong are bucking the pattern.
In response to the Japan Nationwide Tourism Group, the variety of guests from Hong Kong in Might fell by round 24,000 in comparison with the identical month final yr—an 11% drop. Some Hong Kong vacationers stated that they had been warned in opposition to visiting Japan this yr.
“The prophecy in that ebook is well-known in Hong Kong, and folks suppose it is harmful,” stated one vacationer.
On the heart of the rumor is the manga Watashi ga Mita Mirai: Kanzenban (The Future I Noticed: Full Version) by Tatsuki Ryo, initially revealed in 1999. The manga, which recounts her alleged prophetic desires, gained notoriety after one in every of its predictions—“a serious catastrophe in March 2011”—was seen as foreshadowing the Nice East Japan Earthquake.
The present rumor stems from one other passage in the identical ebook: “The water within the Pacific south of the Japanese archipelago will rise. This catastrophe will occur in July 2025.”
Though the work is solely based mostly on the writer’s desires and lacks scientific proof, the passage has unfold quickly on social media platforms in Hong Kong because the starting of the yr.
“There are numerous individuals who imagine in it,” one Hong Kong customer stated. “Everybody informed me to not go to Japan in July, so I got here in Might as a substitute.”
The results of the rumor at the moment are being seen on the bottom. At a resort in Osaka’s Shinsaibashi district, gross sales supervisor workers reported that company from Hong Kong—who beforehand made up about 10% of their clientele—have dropped to almost zero this month.
“When the rumor started circulating, we began getting questions like, ‘Is Japan secure proper now?’” stated the final supervisor of the resort.
The influence has prolonged to airways as effectively. Higher Bay Airways, which operates 5 routes between Hong Kong and Japan, introduced on July 2nd that it’ll droop two of its worldwide routes—from Hong Kong to Yonago Airport in Tottori Prefecture and Tokushima Airport—beginning August thirty first.
“We initially thought the rumors stemming from that prophetic ebook would fade, however ranging from late Might into June, it grew to become clear that wasn’t the case,” stated Hiroki Ito, head of the airline’s Japan workplace.
Tottori Governor Shinji Hirai expressed his shock on the suspension announcement. “We have been surprised, frankly,” he stated. “However we acknowledge that it might have been unavoidable, and we should settle for the truth of the scenario.”
Regardless of the shortage of proof, the rumor has gained such traction that even the Japan Meteorological Company issued an uncommon public remark.
“At current, there isn’t a scientific foundation for predicting the time, place, or magnitude of an earthquake,” stated Ryuichi Nomura, the company’s director. “Such data needs to be thought of misinformation, and there may be completely no must be alarmed by it.”
Supply: YOMIURI
