Lesson made on May 20, 2025
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Reading Lesson:
Some people are cancelling or delaying their trips to Japan because of fears about a big earthquake. These fears started after a Japanese comic book, or manga, talked about a possible disaster coming in July 2025. The manga was made by an artist named Ryo Tatsuki. She made a similar comic back in 1999 that seemed to predict the massive earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan in March 2011. That event caused huge damage and led to a nuclear accident. Because of that, some fans believe she can see the future through her dreams.
In her latest comic, Tatsuki says a giant earthquake could happen under the sea between Japan and the Philippines, sending giant waves toward Japan. This has worried many people, especially in places like Hong Kong, China, Thailand, and Vietnam. Some travellers from these areas are now scared to visit Japan.
Psychics have also made scary predictions. One even said a big earthquake would hit Tokyo in April 2025, but nothing happened. Still, many of these ideas spread quickly on social media, making people more afraid.
Japan’s government and earthquake experts say that nobody can really predict exactly when or where an earthquake will hit. While Japan does have lots of earthquakes because it sits on a part of the Earth called the “Ring of Fire,” the country is very prepared. It has strong buildings and good emergency plans.
Ryo Tatsuki, the manga artist, said she’s happy if her work helps people be ready for emergencies. But she also warned readers not to believe everything in her dreams and to listen to real experts.
Comprehension Quiz:
Speaking and Writing Activities:
– Discuss these questions with a partner or a small group.
– Choose one topic and write a response to it. Show your writing to a classmate or teacher.
1. Have you ever believed in something that turned out not to be true? What happened?
2. Do you think dreams can tell us important messages? Share a dream you remember and what you think it meant.
3. Have you ever read comic books? Describe the story of a comic book you read.
More Reading Practice:
2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
The 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami was a very big disaster in Japan. It happened on March 11, 2011. First, a strong earthquake hit the northeast coast of Japan. It was one of the most powerful earthquakes ever recorded. The ground shook for many minutes. It caused buildings, roads, and homes to break or fall down.
After the earthquake, a huge wave from the ocean, called a tsunami, came to shore. This wave was very fast and very high. It moved far into the land and destroyed many towns. Many people lost their homes, and thousands of people died. The water also washed away cars, trees, and buildings.
The tsunami also caused a big problem at a power plant called Fukushima Daiichi. This plant made electricity using nuclear energy. When the water hit the plant, it damaged the machines that kept the reactors cool. Without cooling, the reactors got too hot, and there were explosions. Some dangerous radiation got into the air and water. People who lived near the plant had to leave their homes.
The disaster hurt many people and changed many lives. Japan worked hard to help people and fix the damage. It took a long time, and many people around the world helped too. The event showed how strong nature can be and how important it is to be ready for emergencies.
“The Future I Saw” by Ryo Tatsuki
A manga (Japanese comic) once showed the words “The great disaster will occur in March 2011” on its cover. After a real earthquake and tsunami happened that month, people became very interested in the manga and its creator, Ryo Tatsukiryō. She said she got her ideas from dreams that felt like they showed the future, and she kept drawings and notes about them in a notebook.
The manga, called The Future I Saw, became popular again after the disaster. Some people even paid over 100,000 yen (almost $1,000) for copies because they believed it had predicted the event. For a while, the real artist disappeared from the public eye, but she later came back to explain who she was, especially after someone pretending to be her started making random predictions.
In July 2021, Tatsukiryō had another strange dream and made a new version of her manga. This version had a new warning: “The real disaster will come in July 2025.”