Did Japan’s 'New Baba Vanga' Predict the 2025 Tsunami?

In her 1999 manga The Future I Saw, artist Ryo Tatsuki predicted that the seas around southern Japan would “boil” in July 2025, hinting at a major disaster 

Tatsuki earned the moniker “New Baba Vanga of Japan” after Japan and world events—such as the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake—seemed to align with her windows of prophecy

Widespread panic followed. Travel bookings to Japan dropped sharply—down up to 83% from some Asian markets—as fears over the July prediction mounted 

Between June 25 and July 4, Japan’s Tokara Islands experienced over 1,198 minor quakes, including one measuring JMA 6 on July 4, stoking viral fears on social media

On July 30, 2025, a massive magnitude‑8.8 earthquake struck off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, the strongest in the region since 1952, triggering tsunami alerts across the Pacific

Tsunami waves reached Japan’s Hokkaido island and the Kuril Islands, including a ~50 cm surge at Ishinomaki port. Sirens blared and evacuations were carried out, including at the Fukushima nuclear site

Although nothing occurred on July 5, many believe Tatsuki’s prediction referred to the month. Scientists and Japan's weather agency labelled earthquake forecasting at a specific date a “hoax” and coincidence