Latest news with #EastAsia
The Independent
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Popular manga's ‘catastrophe warning' for Japan triggers mass travel cancellations and tourism slump
A comic book has sparked travel anxiety in East Asia with predictions that a 'real catastrophe' will hit Japan this summer. The Future I Saw, a comic book by manga artist Ryo Tatsuki, has prompted some tourists to cancel their Japan trips after it claimed that an earthquake would rock the country in July. The comic, originally published in 1999, depicts cartoon versions of the illustrator and visions of her dreams. In the comic's 'complete' 2021 edition, Tatsuki 'predicted' that on 5 July 2025, a seabed crack between Japan and the Philippines will send giant waves ashore. The unfounded claims say that 'the sea boils south of Japan in July 2025', adding that the major seismic event will see waves three times taller than the 2011 tsunami. Tatsuki previously warned of a major disaster in March 2011 – a date that happened to coincide with the devastating Tohoku earthquake and tsunami. Since the prediction, Tatsuki has gained a cult following, selling 900,000 copies of The Future I Saw, including printed editions in Chinese, according to the book's publisher. Psychics from Japan and Hong Kong have since shared similar warnings on social media, with Qi Xian Yu, a popular feng shui influencer known as 'Master Seven', urging travellers to stay away from Japan. Mild earthquakes are not uncommon in Japan due to its position at the intersection of several tectonic plates. In January, Japan's earthquake investigation panel increased the probability of a megaquake (magnitude 8 or higher) striking the Nankai Trough within the next 30 years to over 80 per cent. However, according to seismologists, it is almost impossible to predict exactly when an earthquake will happen. Japan's Cabinet Office Disaster Prevention Division said on X/Twitter last month: 'With current scientific knowledge, it is difficult to predict an earthquake by specifying its date, time and location, so please be aware that earthquakes can occur at any time and make preparations on an ongoing basis.' Regardless, inbound tourism from China, Hong Kong, Thailand and Vietnam has dipped following the unfounded earthquake-related rumours on social media. CN Yuen, managing director of WWPKG, a Hong Kong travel agency, told local media that Japan bookings dropped by half during the Easter holiday, with a further decline expected as travellers 'hold off' on trips. Frankie Chow, head of Hong Kong travel agency CLS Holiday, similarly said to AFP: 'The earthquake prophecy has absolutely caused a big change to our customers' preferences.' Chow reported up to 80 per cent fewer inquiries on Japan travels in comparison to last year. At a press conference in April, Yoshihiro Murai, the governor of earthquake-prone Miyagi, slammed the influence of superstition on travel. He said: 'I believe it is a serious issue when the spread of highly unscientific rumours on social media has an effect on tourism.' Mainichi Shimbun, a Japanese newspaper, reported last month that 70-year-old Tatsuki had urged travellers not to be 'overly swayed' by her dreams and 'act appropriately based on expert opinions,' said CNN. Although the fear-mongering seems to have had an impact on some travellers from China, Japan welcomed 3,497,600 undeterred international travellers in March 2025, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO).
Al Arabiya
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Taiwan detects 50 Chinese military aircraft around island
Taiwan detected 50 Chinese military aircraft around the island, the defense ministry said Friday, days after a British naval vessel sailed through the sensitive Taiwan Strait. China insists democratic, self-ruled Taiwan is part of its territory and has threatened to use force to bring the island under its control. Beijing has ramped up the deployment of fighter jets and naval vessels around Taiwan in recent years to press its claim of sovereignty, which Taipei rejects. Taiwan also accuses China of using espionage, cyberattacks and disinformation to weaken its defenses. Along with the 50 aircraft, six Chinese naval vessels were also detected in the 24 hours to 6:00 a.m. (10:00 p.m. GMT Thursday), the defense ministry said. It said in a separate statement that an additional 24 Chinese aircraft, including fighters and drones, were spotted since 8:50 a.m. Friday. Among them, 15 crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait in conducting air–sea joint training with Chinese naval vessels, the ministry said, adding it 'monitored the situation and responded accordingly.' The latest incursion came after British Royal Navy patrol vessel HMS Spey sailed through the Taiwan Strait on June 18, Taiwan's foreign ministry said Thursday. The United States and other countries view the 180-kilometer (112-mile) Taiwan Strait as international waters that should be open to all vessels. The last time a British Navy ship transited the Taiwan Strait was in 2021, when the HMS Richmond, a frigate deployed with Britain's aircraft carrier strike group, sailed through from Japan to Vietnam. China strongly condemned Britain at the time and deployed its military to follow the vessel. In April, Taiwan detected 76 Chinese aircraft and 15 naval vessels around the island, when Beijing conducted live-fire exercises that included simulated strikes aimed at the island's key ports and energy sites. The highest number of Chinese aircraft recorded was 153 on October 15, after China staged large-scale military drills in response to Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te's National Day speech days earlier.
CNA
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CNA
East Asia Tonight - Thu 19 Jun 2025
48:55 Min Spotlight on East Asia, a region steeped in history and now helping to write the future of our world. We'll break down the key stories and explain why they matter. East Asia Tonight About the show: 'East Asia Tonight' shines a spotlight on a region steeped in history and now helping to write the future of our world. Greater China, Japan, and the Korean Peninsula have economic and political might, and are major drivers of daily news and business. We'll break down the key stories and explain why they matter.
Al Bawaba
a day ago
- Politics
- Al Bawaba
North Korea fires 10+ ballistic missiles near U.S.-South Korea bases
ALBAWABA- North Korea launched over 10 short-range ballistic and subsonic missiles early Thursday from Sunan, near Pyongyang, aimed northwest, away from direct targets but near U.S.-South Korea military zones. Also Read Israel's Soroka hospital hit in latest Iranian missile barrage While officially unacknowledged by Pyongyang, the timing raises alarms amid rising global instability. On May 9, 2025, North Korea conducted a joint striking drill involving long-range artillery and missile systems from the Korean People's Army's eastern front division. The drill, held at an undisclosed location, showcased coordinated firepower and further underscored the North's continued military readiness amid escalating regional tensions. The launches come just as Iran retaliates with heavy missile strikes on Tel Aviv and Beersheba, targeting Israeli military infrastructure, such as the Soroka medical wing and stock exchange, causing unprecedented damage and casualties. The overlapping escalations in East Asia, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe fuel concerns of a broader regional, even global, conflict.
Free Malaysia Today
a day ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Retirement age hike won't harm young jobseekers, says World Bank economist
World Bank senior economist for social protection and jobs in the East Asia and Pacific region, Matthew Dornan, said older workers who stayed employed continued to spend money, which helped support the economy and create more jobs. KUALA LUMPUR : Raising the retirement age in Malaysia will not reduce job opportunities for young people, World Bank senior economist for social protection and jobs in the East Asia and Pacific region, Matthew Dornan said today. Speaking at EPF's International Social Well-being Conference here today, Dornan said the belief that older workers would take away jobs from younger ones was a common misconception. 'There isn't a fixed number of jobs in the economy,' he said during his keynote speech titled 'Labour and longevity: Responding to the challenge of an ageing population.' He said older workers who stayed employed continued to spend money, which helped support the economy and create more jobs, including for younger workers. Dornan said studies showed that this trend was also true in Malaysia, except in sectors such as the civil service where employment might be capped. He said many countries had raised their retirement age as the population aged, adding that Malaysia did the same when it gradually increased the minimum retirement age from 55 to 60. Dornan said any further increase should be gradual and fair, possibly with different rules for different age groups, to allow time for adjustment and reduce public backlash. He also suggested linking the retirement age to life expectancy, as done in some developed countries, to prevent it becoming politicised. Yesterday, EPF CEO Ahmad Zulqarnain Onn said that life expectancy in Malaysia had increased from 54 years in the 1950s to 75 today, and was projected to hit 81 by 2050. Dornan warned that allowing early access to pension funds might lead to inadequate savings in old age, as some might spend the money too early. AdChoices ADVERTISING He added that while retirement policies mainly affected formal workers, many informal workers in Malaysia continued working beyond 60 out of necessity. Last month, law and institutional reform minister Azalina Othman Said proposed that the government study extending the retirement age to 65, noting that many Malaysians remained active and capable well into their 60s. In 2014, Malaysia raised the retirement age to 60 for both public and private sectors, up from 58 and 55 respectively, to promote financial security and active ageing.
