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A Japanese manga artist, Ryuju Ryo, published a book claiming that a massive earthquake would strike the Nankai Trough on July 5, 2025. Even though scientists quickly dismissed the idea, saying earthquakes cannot be predicted with exact dates, the claim spread widely and triggered panic across Hong Kong, Taiwan, and other nearby regions.
Tourism was hit hardest. Bookings from Hong Kong to Japan fell by more than 80 percent, and Taiwanese tour packages dropped to their lowest prices in two decades. Airlines canceled summer routes because demand collapsed, and travel agencies slashed prices to recover costs but still struggled to attract customers. At the same time, panic buying surged, with emergency kits, camping gear, and portable generators selling out as people prepared for the worst. Online communities amplified the fear, with hundreds of thousands joining groups to discuss escape strategies and survival plans.
The ripple effects even reached the crypto world. In Taiwan, investors debated whether “escaping with cold wallets” could protect their digital assets if banks failed or fiat currency lost value. Analysts pointed out that in a real disaster without electricity or internet, crypto would be useless compared to food, water, and medicine.
Officials and experts tried to calm the situation. Japan’s Meteorological Agency stressed that such predictions are baseless, while seismologists explained that although a large earthquake is likely within the next 30 years, the chance of it happening on a specific day is extremely small. They urged people to focus on rational disaster preparedness, like keeping emergency supplies and knowing evacuation routes, rather than canceling trips or hoarding goods.
In the end, the episode shows how quickly fear can spread when unverified predictions gain traction. It disrupted tourism, fueled consumer panic, and even influenced financial discussions.

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