The Real Crisis Behind "The Future I See": How Fiction Shakes Up the Tourism and Aviation Industries

Mid-2025, a Japanese manga suddenly triggered a chain of panic across multiple parts of Asia. The comic titled “The Future I See” was over-interpreted regarding its earthquake and tsunami scenes, which, after layers of social media amplification and superstitious cultural interpretations, ultimately led to a rare online rumor wave—an unfounded prophecy that did not come true, yet it had already shaken the real market. Now, early 2026, the lessons left by this wave still warrant deep reflection.

Fictional Work Activated as “Doomsday Prophecy” Multiple Clarifications Fail to Sway

When a well-known Hong Kong feng shui master combined the manga’s content with metaphysical astrology, “The Future I See” instantly transformed from an ordinary creative work into a “Prophecy Bible.” This transformation spread rapidly on social platforms, from Hong Kong to Taiwan, and even affected Japan itself.

The manga’s creator, Ryu Juro, aged 72, recently had to speak out personally to clarify. She emphasized that “The Future I See” was purely a product of personal dream-inspired creativity and earnestly urged the public not to over-interpret the manga’s content. Meanwhile, Miyagi Prefecture Governor Murai Yoshihiro publicly dismissed the rumor as “unscientific,” attempting to counter panic with rational voices. However, these clarifications from authorities seemed powerless—when fiction is actively embraced as faith by the public, facts often lose to imagination.

How Online Rumors Penetrate Industries? Chain Reactions in Aviation and Tourism Markets

The prophecy did not come true, but the damage was already done. Greater Bay Area airlines announced they would reduce direct flights between Sendai and Tokushima from July 12 to October 25, citing the reason behind this decision as heartbreaking—many travelers canceled their trips due to disaster predictions circulating on social media. An airline representative admitted that investigations showed many passengers believed the online messages, and to avoid low passenger loads, the company was forced to make this difficult business decision.

Tourism trends in Hong Kong and Taiwan also fluctuated accordingly. Local residents in Hong Kong reported that the rumor was “widely known,” and Taiwan’s travel community was flooded with warnings like “Disaster will happen in Japan on July 5.” These baseless messages spread like a virus, leading many travelers to cancel or postpone their tickets, directly impacting Japan’s tourism industry and airline revenues.

Trust Crisis in the Information Age: Why Do People Believe Rumors Over Science?

A survey by Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications revealed the root of the problem. The survey found that nearly 50% of Japanese believe information obtained from the internet or media is “accurate or possibly accurate,” and about a quarter of them would even forward unverified information proactively. This alarming figure highlights that—when the public loses the ability to discern truth from falsehood—rumor spread is no longer just the fault of the spreaders but a collapse of the entire information ecosystem.

Why are fictional stories more believable than scientific data? From a psychological perspective, humans tend to seek prophecy and divination for psychological comfort when facing an uncertain future. Especially in cultures like Hong Kong and Taiwan, where metaphysical beliefs have deep social acceptance, the combination of feng shui masters’ voices and manga plots creates a “double validation” illusion of safety—making the fictional seem scientific and the prophecy authorized.

“The Future I See” and Its Lessons: Lack of Media Literacy Is the True Disaster

If “The Future I See” manga is a litmus test, then what it reveals is the chaos of modern information society. Natural disasters have not occurred, but human hearts are already in turmoil; prophecies have not been fulfilled, yet industries are already damaged. This reminds us that in the age of information explosion, the ability to read and interpret information has become a more urgent issue than disaster prevention knowledge.

Relying solely on authorities’ clarifications is insufficient to combat online rumors. More importantly, society as a whole needs to improve media literacy—teaching people how to judge sources, verify data authenticity, and distinguish emotional manipulation from factual statements. Only when every individual develops independent thinking can we maintain rationality amid the flood of true and false information and avoid being captivated by fictional stories.

True disaster prevention begins with anti-rumor efforts. True safety stems from wise information choices.