Panic Grips Japan After 1,000 Earthquakes in Two Weeks: ‘Scary to Even Fall Asleep’

A wave of anxiety has swept across Japan and beyond, as a surge of over 1,000 earthquakes in the past two weeks and a viral manga prediction have triggered widespread doomsday speculation for July 5 — today.

While none of the tremors have caused major damage or triggered tsunami alerts, their sheer frequency has unsettled residents, especially in the Tokara Islands, which have experienced some of the strongest jolts. Locals describe eerie “roars” from the ocean before quakes strike, and many say it’s become frightening even to sleep. “It feels like it’s always shaking,” a resident told the BBC. Another, Isamu Sakamoto of Akusekijima island, added: “The quakes start with a jolt from below, then the house sways. It’s sickening.”

Authorities, including the Japan Meteorological Agency, have urged calm but acknowledged the potential for stronger offshore quakes in the coming days. “With our current scientific knowledge, it’s difficult to predict the exact time, place or scale of an earthquake,” said Ayataka Ebita, director of the agency’s earthquake and tsunami monitoring division.

The fear has been intensified by a widely circulated manga comic titled The Future I Saw, whose creator Ryo Tatsuki has gained notoriety for what some believe are uncanny disaster predictions. Her earlier editions were linked by fans to the devastating 2011 earthquake and tsunami, and the latest installment is being interpreted by some as a warning for July 5, 2025.

Tatsuki, however, has denied any prophetic intent, insisting, “I’m not a prophet.”

Despite reassurances, the panic has spilled into the tourism sector. Japan, which saw a record 3.9 million tourists in April, is now facing a slump. Flights from Hong Kong — where the manga has a strong following — have been canceled, and visitor numbers are down 11% year-on-year from the region.

While officials stress there is no scientific basis for the July 5 prophecy, the timing of the quakes and the viral speculation have created a perfect storm of anxiety — in a country all too familiar with natural disasters.