Recent earthquakes in Japan
Japan sits at the junction of four tectonic plates — the Pacific, Philippine Sea, Eurasian, and North American — making it one of the most seismically active countries on Earth. Most large events strike offshore along the Japan Trench and Nankai Trough, where oceanic plates subduct beneath the archipelago at roughly 8 cm per year. The 2011 M9.1 Tōhoku earthquake ruptured the Japan Trench boundary and generated a major tsunami. In the past 24 hours, Japan has recorded 1 earthquake, the largest an M4.4 (132 km E of Noda, Japan).
Counts include M2.5+ events — the smallest size USGS reports consistently worldwide.
Recent earthquakes
| Magnitude | Time (UTC) | Depth | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| M4.4 | Sep 11, 18:53 UTC | 32 km | 132 km E of Noda, Japan |
| M4.6 | Sep 6, 12:17 UTC | 35 km | 219 km SSE of Wada, Japan |
| M4.9 | Sep 6, 05:15 UTC | 34 km | 118 km ENE of Kuji, Japan |
Notable recent activity
An M4.9 earthquake struck 118 km ENE of Kuji, Japan at 05:15 UTC on Sep 6 at a depth of 34 km.
An M4.6 earthquake struck 219 km SSE of Wada, Japan at 12:17 UTC on Sep 6 at a depth of 35 km.
An M4.4 earthquake struck 132 km E of Noda, Japan at 18:53 UTC on Sep 11 at a depth of 32 km.
Frequently asked questions
How many earthquakes does Japan get?
Japan records over 1,000 felt earthquakes a year and thousands more too small to notice — roughly a fifth of the world's magnitude 6 and larger events occur in or around the country. Most are small offshore adjustments along the subduction zones.
Why does Japan have so many earthquakes?
Japan lies where four tectonic plates converge. The Pacific and Philippine Sea plates subduct beneath the Eurasian and North American plates, storing and releasing strain along the Japan Trench, Nankai Trough, and a dense network of inland faults.
What was the biggest earthquake in Japan?
The magnitude 9.1 Tōhoku earthquake of March 11, 2011 is the largest instrumentally recorded in Japan. It ruptured the Japan Trench off the northeast coast and produced a tsunami that reached over 10 metres in places.
Nearby regions
Live data from the USGS earthquake feeds. Magnitudes and depths are automated readings and may be revised. Not for emergency use.