Did 'Japanese Baba Vanga' really predict pandemic return? Here’s why everyone’s worried

As COVID-19 cases rise again in parts of Asia, including India, people are growing increasingly worried about the possibility of another pandemic wave. Major states like Kerala, Maharashtra, and Gujarat, among others, have reported a sharp increase in cases. Health authorities are keeping a close watch and have issued guidelines to hospitals and the public to stay alert.

Amid this concern, an old and chilling prediction made by Japanese manga artist and writer Ryo Tatsuki, often called the “Japanese Baba Vanga”, is going viral. People are now recalling her decades-old claim about a pandemic returning in 2030, as fresh cases begin to climb once again.

Who is Ryo Tatsuki?

Ryo Tatsuki is best known for her 1999 book The Future As I See It, in which she recorded visions she saw in her dreams. One of her most talked-about predictions reads: “An unknown virus will come in 2020, will disappear after peaking in April, and appear again 10 years later.”


Many now believe this was a reference to COVID-19.

Her book also included predictions about the death of Princess Diana, singer Freddie Mercury, and several other major events, some of which people say have come true.

With new variants like JN.1 being closely monitored, Tatsuki’s warning about the virus returning with greater destruction is gaining renewed attention. Her 1999 prediction stated that the virus would return 10 years after 2020, cause more deaths, and once again disrupt global health systems.

COVID-19 in India Now

As of now, India has more than 1,000 active COVID-19 cases. Health officials are not panicking but are urging people to be cautious, follow safety guidelines, and stay informed.

Inputs from TOI