Japan July Earthquake? NHK Points Out Rumors Originated from Hong Kong and Taiwan

Recently, rumors about a "July earthquake" in Japan have been rampant. The Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) traced the origin of these rumors, pointing indirectly to Hong Kong as the source. Many online videos use the manga "The Future I Saw" as a starting point, showing frequent travelers to Japan from Hong Kong postponing their trips, and feng shui masters warning "a major disaster will occur in Japan," advising people not to visit, among other content.

The Japan Meteorological Agency refutes these claims, stating, "In general, information that can predict the exact time and place of earthquakes is considered a rumor. Based on current scientific knowledge, it is impossible to predict the specific time, location, or scale of earthquakes or volcanic eruptions.”

The rumor originated from Japanese manga artist Ryuju Ryo's work "The Future I Saw: Complete Edition," which predicts "a real catastrophe in Japan in July 2025." The book became a sensation for allegedly predicting the 311 Great East Japan Earthquake.

However, Ryuju Ryo stated in a media interview that she views the matter objectively and urges the public to stay calm, referring to experts' advice and taking appropriate actions.

She said, "The heightened attention displayed by everyone indicates a growing awareness of disaster prevention, which I think is very positive. I hope this attention will promote the implementation and preparation of safety measures."

She emphasized that the interpretation of prophetic dreams should be left to individuals to judge and hoped that people would not panic excessively.

NHK pointed out that the "July earthquake" initially spread as an urban legend on Japanese-language channels, with at least 1,400 Japanese videos related to "July 2025" on YouTube, totaling over 100 million views. Some claim that "a meteor will fall in July 2025," "a major earthquake will occur in the Nankai Trough," "volcanic eruptions will happen," and others say "other prophets have said similar things."

Since the end of last year, the rumor gradually spread overseas, particularly expanding from Hong Kong and Taiwan. There are at least 220 videos on this theme using traditional Chinese characters, with total views exceeding 52 million on YouTube. Following this wave, the topic also invaded TikTok, with posts appearing in English, Thai, and Vietnamese, some garnering over 2 million views. Entering April, media in India, Indonesia, the UK, and Spain also began reporting on it.

Scholars analyzed that the "July earthquake" is not a new topic, but with the publication of new estimates regarding the disaster situation in the Nankai Trough in late March, interest in Japanese earthquakes has increased. Additionally, the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo also issued a warning regarding the Nankai Trough earthquake in April, suggesting "making safety arrangements for travel or study in Japan and carefully considering any real estate purchases," further fueling anxiety.