Japan's Earthquake Rumors: Science vs. Speculation

Japan is no stranger to earthquakes, but recent tremors have sparked quite a stir.

• Over 1,000 quakes have shaken the Kagoshima prefecture in just two weeks.
• The strongest so far was a 5.5-magnitude quake near Kyushu island.
• This has led to some people getting worried and even evacuating.

Rumors and a 1999 Comic Book

• Rumors are flying around, thanks to a comic book from 1999.
• The comic has been re-released, and some people think it predicts a big disaster this month.
• The government is asking everyone to stay calm and not believe these rumors.
• They say science can't predict exactly when or where a big quake will hit.

The Artist's Response

• The artist behind the comic has spoken up too.
• She says she's not a prophet and her work isn't a prediction.
• Even so, some travelers, especially from Hong Kong, are avoiding Japan.
• This is a shame because Japan has been seeing record numbers of visitors lately.

Japan's Earthquake-Prone Nature

• Japan sits on a lot of fault lines, so quakes are common.
• In fact, it's home to about one-fifth of the world's big quakes.
• The government is doing its best to keep everyone informed and safe.
• They're asking people to rely on scientific facts, not rumors.