TOKYO -- An unsubstantiated rumor spreading in Hong Kong that a major disaster will strike Japan in July was discussed June 4 during the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee meeting.

The rumor has already caused issues such as flight reductions by airlines, prompting the Japanese government to urge travelers to "rely on scientific information from public agencies when making travel decisions."

The rumor is said to be partly based on the content from the Japanese manga "Watashi ga Mita Mirai" (The future I saw), originally published in 1999, which has been circulating among social media users in Hong Kong since earlier this year. Some Hong Kong airlines have reportedly reduced or suspended regular flights to Japan since May.

Takanori Suzuki, the vice commissioner of the Japan Tourism Agency who responded to questions during the committee meeting, dismissed the rumor, saying, "The Cabinet Office and the Japan Meteorological Agency say predicting the specific date, time and location (of earthquakes) is difficult based on current scientific knowledge." He called on the public not to be misled by scientifically groundless claims.

The number of tourists from Hong Kong to Japan reached a record high of about 260,000 people in April, but the number of visitors is expected to decline in May and June, during the off season. The Japanese government, promoting inbound tourism, is closely monitoring the number of visitors from Hong Kong and other places, as well as trip cancellations, for the month of July.

(Japanese original by Ryuko Tadokoro, Political News Department)