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. May noticed a document variety of worldwide guests to Japan for that month, reflecting a continued growth in inbound tourism. However, information present that vacationers from Hong Kong are bucking the development.
According to the Japan National Tourism Organization, the variety of guests from Hong Kong in May fell by round 24,000 in comparison with the identical month final yr—an 11% drop. Some Hong Kong vacationers mentioned that they had been warned towards visiting Japan this yr.
“The prophecy in that book is well known in Hong Kong, and people think it’s dangerous,” mentioned one vacationer.
At the middle of the rumor is the manga Watashi ga Mita Mirai: Kanzenban (The Future I Saw: Complete Edition) by Tatsuki Ryo, initially revealed in 1999. The manga, which recounts her alleged prophetic goals, gained notoriety after one among its predictions—“a major disaster in March 2011”—was seen as foreshadowing the Great East Japan Earthquake.
The present rumor stems from one other passage in the identical e-book: “The water in the Pacific south of the Japanese archipelago will rise. This disaster will happen in July 2025.”
Although the work is completely based mostly on the writer’s goals and lacks scientific proof, the passage has unfold quickly on social media platforms in Hong Kong because the starting of the yr.
“There are many people who believe in it,” one Hong Kong customer mentioned. “Everyone told me not to go to Japan in July, so I came in May instead.”
The results of the rumor are actually being seen on the bottom. At a resort in Osaka’s Shinsaibashi district, gross sales supervisor employees reported that company from Hong Kong—who beforehand made up about 10% of their clientele—have dropped to just about zero this month.
“When the rumor began circulating, we started getting questions like, ‘Is Japan safe right now?’” mentioned the overall supervisor of the resort.
The affect has prolonged to airways as properly. Greater Bay Airlines, which operates 5 routes between Hong Kong and Japan, introduced on July 2nd that it’s going to 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 e-book would fade, however ranging from late May into June, it grew to become clear that wasn’t the case,” mentioned Hiroki Ito, head of the airline’s Japan workplace.
Tottori Governor Shinji Hirai expressed his shock on the suspension announcement. “We were stunned, frankly,” he mentioned. “But we recognize that it may have been unavoidable, and we must accept the reality of the situation.”
Despite the shortage of proof, the rumor has gained such traction that even the Japan Meteorological Agency issued an uncommon public remark.
“At present, there is no scientific basis for predicting the time, place, or magnitude of an earthquake,” mentioned Ryuichi Nomura, the company’s director. “Such information should be considered misinformation, and there is absolutely no need to be alarmed by it.”
Source: YOMIURI