Japan Shaken, Not Stirred Earthquake Fears vs. Official Calm

Japan Braces for Potential Aftershocks as Authorities Dismiss Doomsday Predictions

Japan is currently on alert for potential aftershocks following a series of seismic events near its southwestern islands. While authorities acknowledge the increased activity, they are actively working to dispel rumors of an impending major disaster fueled by interpretations of a decades-old comic book.

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued a warning on Saturday, advising the public to remain vigilant for further strong earthquakes in the waters southwest of the main islands. This advisory comes after a 5.5-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Kyushu, the southernmost of Japan's main islands, on Thursday.

The recent seismic activity has included:

• Over 1,000 tremors recorded in the Kagoshima prefecture islands in the past two weeks.
• The evacuation of some residents from remote islands near the epicenter of the Thursday quake.
• A 5.4-magnitude quake that shook the area again on Saturday.

These events have, unfortunately, coincided with circulating rumors stemming from a comic book prediction of a major disaster set to befall the country this month. This has led to some public anxiety and even impacted tourism.

Ayataka Ebita, director of the JMA's earthquake and tsunami monitoring division, addressed the public directly, stating: “With our current scientific knowledge, it’s difficult to predict the exact time, place or scale of an earthquake. We ask that people base their understanding on scientific evidence.”

The impact of these rumors is already being felt. According to recent data, arrivals from Hong Kong were down 11% in May compared to the same month last year, likely due to the widespread circulation of these unverified predictions.

However, it's important to note that Japan has been experiencing a robust recovery in tourism. April saw a record monthly high of 3.9 million travelers visiting the country.

Ryo Tatsuki, the artist behind the manga “The Future I Saw,” which was first published in 1999 and re-released in 2021, has also issued a statement through her publisher, clarifying that she is “not a prophet.”

Japan is, of course, no stranger to earthquakes. It is one of the most seismically active regions in the world, accounting for approximately one-fifth of the world’s earthquakes of magnitude 6 or greater.

In conclusion, while the heightened seismic activity in Japan warrants attention and preparedness, it's crucial to rely on verified information from official sources and avoid succumbing to fear-mongering and unsubstantiated claims. The authorities are actively monitoring the situation, and public safety remains their top priority.

Tags: Japan earthquake, Kagoshima tremors, Earthquake warning, Kyushu quake, Earthquake prediction, Japan disaster, Meteorological Agency, Island evacuation, Strong tremors, Seismic activity

Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/05/asia/japan-earthquake-warnings-intl