Overview

• The July 5 date passed with no megaquake occurring, dispelling the Ryo Tatsuki manga prophecy.
• Travel demand to southern Japan remains subdued after social media-driven fears led to flight cancellations by carriers such as Greater Bay Airlines.
• More than 1,000 tremors hit Kagoshima Prefecture and a 5.5-magnitude quake off Kyushu prompted evacuations on nearby islands.
• Japan Meteorological Agency director Ayataka Ebita underscored that exact earthquake timing, location and magnitude remain beyond current scientific capabilities.
• Officials note that decades of preparedness planning remain crucial given an official 80% probability of a Nankai Trough megaquake within 30 years.