Japan’s Mount Shinmoedake erupted on Wednesday afternoon, sending thick ash plumes several metres into the air. Authorities issued warnings advising locals to stay away from the mountain due to safety concerns.
Japan’s Mount Shinmoedake erupted on Wednesday afternoon, sending thick ash plumes several metres into the air. Authorities issued warnings advising locals to stay away from the mountain due to safety concerns.
As the volcano erupted, social media was abuzz with references to a viral prediction made by Japanese manga artist Ryo Tatsuki, who had earlier forecast a major disaster in Japan in 2025. Often likened to Baba Vanga for her uncanny foresight, Tatsuki’s prophecy — which mentioned a catastrophic event in early June — resurfaced online, with many drawing connections to the sudden volcanic activity.
Japan’s weather agency also issued a warning and said, “The plume reached the height of 3,000 metres (9,800 feet) for the first time since April 3, 2011.”
Video of the eruption captured by the Meteorological Agency showed lava and thick grey smoke rising from the mountain around midnight on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, a powerful earthquake on Thursday—one of over 1,000 tremors reported in Kagoshima prefecture over the past two weeks—has intensified speculation linked to a manga prediction about a major disaster in July.
Following a 5.5-magnitude quake near southern Kyushu, authorities evacuated residents from nearby remote islands on Friday.
On Saturday, Japan’s government warned of further possible quakes in the region but urged the public not to fall for baseless disaster rumours circulating online.
The manga’s first edition appeared to foreshadow the March 2011 quake and tsunami that devastated Japan. Its latest edition has been interpreted by some as predicting a major disaster on July 5, 2025 — a claim the creator, Ryo Tatsuki, has denied.
